Google announced that the Play Store's commission will be reduced from 30% to 20%, opening up third-party app store certification in response to the Epic Games lawsuit and global regulatory pressures. (Background: Gemini launched a free 'SAT simulation test' feature, with AI tutoring providing personalized learning guidance) (Context: Google has officially launched 'Gemini 3'! What are the highlights of the world's smartest AI model?) On the 4th, Google officially announced a comprehensive reform of its Android app ecosystem's Play Store fee structure. According to the announcement, the new standard commission rate is directly cut from the original 30% to 20%. Additionally, developers participating in the 'App Experience Program' or the 'Google Play Games Level Up Program' will enjoy a 15% discounted rate for new user installations; the fee for regular subscriptions will be 10%, allowing users to complete purchases on the merchant's website. Another key point is the degree of openness for alternative payment systems. Developers can now offer both the Google billing system and alternative payment options simultaneously within the app, and can also direct users to their own website to complete purchases. This is much more lenient than Apple's App Store policy in 2025, where Apple currently only allows payment through in-app links to web pages, whereas Google allows you to have two checkout buttons within the app. Note: Developers choosing to use the Google Play billing system, in addition to service fees, will also need to pay a market-specific handling fee. In the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, and the USA, this handling fee is 5%. New track for third-party app stores Another game-changing aspect is the Registered App Stores program. It is understood that third-party app stores that meet 'specific quality and safety standards' can apply to join this program. Certified stores will receive a simplified installation interface within the Android system, eliminating the need for users to confirm multiple times or manually enable permissions from unknown sources. There's also a detail worth noting. Participation in the program is voluntary, and users can still sideload app stores that do not participate in the program. However, Google plans to adjust the sideloading process later in 2026, which may make the process more complicated. Translation into plain language: If you don't join my certification system, I'll make your installation experience more troublesome. Note: APP sideloading refers to the process of installing applications by bypassing the official app store. Android completes this by enabling 'Install Unknown Apps' and directly installing .apk files. Lawsuits, regulation, and an 800 million dollar partnership This transformation did not come from Google suddenly having a change of heart; it is backed by hard legal battles and regulatory pressure. Epic Games filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google in 2020, accusing it of monopolizing the app distribution market. In November 2025, both parties reached a settlement agreement. According to 9to5Google, Google and Epic also signed an 800 million dollar partnership agreement, which includes product development and Google using Epic's 'core technology'. Another driving force comes from the EU (Digital Markets Act) (DMA). This regulation draws a red line on the platform monopolistic behavior of tech giants; by 2025, Apple has already reduced its rates to 17% in the EU, and Google cannot afford to sit idle while its competitors curry favor with regulators. The schedule for the new fee structure also reflects this consideration: the adjusted fee structure for the European Economic Area, the UK, and the USA will take effect on June 30, 2026, with the program launching on September 30. Australia is set for September 30, South Korea and Japan for December 31, and other global regions will have to wait until September 30, 2027. Who are the winners? Developers do benefit, but to varying degrees. Small and medium-sized developers were already subject to lower rate thresholds, so this adjustment is just icing on the cake. The real winners are mid to large publishers with annual revenues in the millions, who will save the most money. At the same time, consumers will have more payment options and more app sources, but as third-party stores flood in, security risks will also come along. Google Play Protect has limited reach, and users need to be more cautious. 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