Google Play will reduce the commission, albeit not immediately — is Steam next?
Google has announced a shake-up for Google Play, moving ahead while the Epic Games case still winds through the courts. The headline: lower fees on in‑app purchases (IAP), but the cuts come with caveats.
At the moment the standard cut is 30%. That number will change depending on when a user installed the app. New installs after the rule change will face a 20% fee, while existing users stay under a 25% rate. Devs who opt out of Google Play’s billing and go with third‑party solutions (e.g., alternative billing providers) get another 5% off those rates — so effectively 15% for new installs and 20% for legacy users.
Rollout is staggered rather than global at once. Key dates: by June 30 the new percentages apply in the EU, the UK, and the US. Australia is slated for September. South Korea and Japan get the changes by year‑end. If you’re elsewhere, expect the new rules only by fall 2027 — yes, 2027.
There’s more than just numbers. Google will also make it easier to install apps from third‑party stores by introducing a Registered App Stores program that vets other platforms against Play’s ecosystem requirements. That program will be trialed outside the US first; in the US it won’t start until a court gives the green light.
Taken together, it’s a mix of concessions and controls — something that will please some devs, confuse others, and probably leave legal teams watching closely.