Upwardly Mobile: Episode Notes Episode Title: App Store Revolution: Google Play Opens to Third-Party Payments (The Epic Games Aftermath) Summary: In this episode of Upwardly Mobile, we break down the monumental shift in the Android ecosystem following the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear Google's final appeal. Google has finally opened its Google Play app store to third-party payment options for U.S. developers, settling a multi-year legal battle initiated by Epic Games. We discuss what this means for developers seeking to maximize revenue, the new freedom to direct users to cheaper external payment options, and the resulting challenges in maintaining app integrity and security now that developers are operating outside Google Play Billing exclusivity. Plus, we explore crucial security solutions, like Approov, that can help developers protect their apps when relying less on Google Mobile Services (GMS) for integrity checks. Key Takeaways - Policy Shift: Following years of legal challenges, Google is now required to allow U.S. app developers to use alternative payment methods and link users directly to external payment sources. This means developers can process payments outside of Google’s ecosystem and inform users about alternative pricing. - End of Exclusivity: Previously, Google generally mandated the use of Google Play Billing and collected a commission on nearly every in-app purchase. Now, developers can provide direct links to external checkout pages and offer options like PayPal or their own payment systems. - Timeline and Scope: This change became effective immediately as of October 29, 2025. However, the new rules currently apply only in the U.S. and the District Court order is set to expire on November 1, 2027. - Security Challenges: While developers gain freedom and potential revenue maximization by avoiding Play Store commissions, distributing and processing payments externally requires implementing their own robust security, update, and analytics systems, as Play services like integrity verification may not be available. - App Attestation Alternative: For developers building non-GMS Android apps or those seeking customizable security outside of Google’s structure, Approov provides a solution. Approov is a runtime application self-protection (RASP) tool that offers app attestation—verifying the integrity and authenticity of an app and the device it runs on—without relying on Google PlayIntegrity or SafetyNet. Sponsored by Approov Protect your app and APIs regardless of your payment processing choices. Approov offers comprehensive runtime application self-protection (RASP) and serves as a reliable, GMS-independent alternative to Google PlayIntegrity for robust app attestation and real-time threat detection. Learn more or start a free trial today: https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/approov.io Relevant Links & Resources - Google Opens App Store to Third-Party Payment Systems (PaymentsJournal): https://www.paymentsjournal.com/google-opens-app-store-to-third-party-payment-systems/ - Google Play now allows Android apps to use other billing systems in the US (9to5Google): https://9to5google.com/2025/10/30/google-play-now-allows-android-apps-to-use-other-billing-systems-in-the-us/ - How Organizations Can Chart the Course to Agentic Commerce (Must Read): [Relevant link to PaymentsJournal content on commerce] (October 31, 2025) Keywords Google Play, third-party payments, Epic Games, app store, commission, app security, app attestation, Approov, U.S. court ruling, Google Play Billing, non-GMS apps, developer revenue, digital payments, emerging payments, API security.