Epic Isn't Satisfied With Google's New Third-Party App Billing System

Last Wednesday, Google announced the launch of its pilot program, User Choice Billing, to test third-party billing systems in Android. However, Epic Games which was previously affected by the excessively strict policy of the search giant believes that these measures are not enough.

As reported by The Verge, Epic, which sued both Apple and Google after its popular game Fortnite was removed from Google Play and App Store for using alternate payment systems, intends to continue advocating for the openness of marketplaces.

"Apple and Google continue to abuse their market power with policies that stifle innovation, inflate prices and reduce consumer choice," Epic’s VP of public policy Corie Wright commented. "One deal does not change the anticompetitive status quo. We will continue to fight for fair and open platforms for all developers and consumers and work with policymakers and regulators to hold these gatekeepers accountable for their anticompetitive conduct."

As part of Google's pilot program, developers will be able to add alternative payment methods to their applications in addition to the standard Google Play system. However, Spotify is the only known participant in the program, and currently, it is not clear who else will be allowed to take part in it, and when the program will be expanded.

So far it is known that Epic Games is definitely not in the new pilot. This was told to The Verge by Epic spokesperson Elka Looks, who, however, did not specify whether the developer rejected the offer to join or did not receive such an invitation at all.

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