# Google Play begins distributing rival Android app stores

_Published Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 10:03 PM EDT · Policy, Products · Latest · Tier 1 — Major_

![Google Play begins distributing rival Android app stores — Primary](https://www.eff.org/files/banner_library/competition_robot.png)

Google has begun allowing rival Android app stores to be distributed through Google Play following a court order stemming from Epic Games' antitrust challenge, the Electronic Frontier Foundation reported. Third-party stores are also allowed to access the Play Store's catalog.

The changes give developers greater freedom to direct users toward alternative payment and distribution options. Epic's lawsuit challenged Google's restrictions on competing stores, app distribution and in-app payments. Rival stores can now reach users through Google's own store, giving developers additional routes to distribute apps rather than relying solely on Google's terms.

## Sources

- [Electronic Frontier Foundation](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/challengers-approach-third-party-app-stores-arrive-google-play)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/Ycz9PzYz8jpjcDFv2ZWshG
Published: 2026-10-02T02:03:22.631Z
Story chronology: 2026-10-01T21:25:19.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-10-02T03:46:31.208Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)