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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Epic Games and Google reached a new agreement in March 2026, but that deal did not replace the U.S. court’s permanent injunction. The parties withdrew their renewed request to modify it in July, and the judge vacated a planned evidentiary hearing while directing attention to Google’s compliance with the injunction already in force. Australia’s regulator separately authorized specified settlement terms for Australia; that is not U.S. court approval.
Did Epic and Google settle?
They reached a private settlement agreement in March 2026. But a private agreement and a court order are different things: the agreement did not, by itself, change the U.S. permanent injunction governing Google Play.
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Google’s developer-policy update said: “On March 4, 2026, we entered a new settlement agreement with Epic and the parties have asked the US District Court to enter a revised Modified Injunction.” That statement described what the companies requested at the time, not a revision the court had already approved. Google Play’s developer-policy update
What happened to the U.S. court request?
The parties withdrew their renewed joint motion in July 2026. The court vacated the evidentiary hearing scheduled for July 16 and directed the parties to discuss Google’s compliance with the existing permanent injunction and implementation of its remedies. The docket index, updated July 28, records that sequence. It does not establish whether later orders changed the requirements.
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- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
So the answer to “Did the judge approve the Epic-Google settlement?” is: the record described here does not show approval of the requested U.S. injunction revision. The existing injunction remained the operative framework in that record, although that does not mean every compliance issue had been resolved. U.S. district court docket index
What does this mean for Google Play and Android users?
Google’s published U.S. policies describe changes it says it implemented under the injunction. Those policies and programs are Google’s account of how developers can use the options; they are not a substitute for the court order.
Rank #2
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
- Developers may communicate about availability or pricing outside Google Play, link users to off-Play downloads or transactions, and use in-app payment methods other than Play Billing, subject to program rules.
- Google says app listings began being made available to third-party U.S. app stores unless a developer opted out. Its Third-party App Store on Play Program began onboarding stores in July 2026.
- Google says developers in its external-content-link and alternative-billing programs would need to report transactions and pay applicable fees starting October 1, 2026. These are Google’s stated program terms, not approved terms of the withdrawn U.S. settlement request.
These options do not mean every Android app store or developer automatically participates. Store onboarding and developer use are governed by Google’s program requirements. Google Play developer policy update
The Ninth Circuit’s 2025 opinion affirmed the injunction, including a mechanism for developers to opt out of catalog access by a particular third-party Android app store. That feature gives developers a distribution choice rather than making every app available in every participating store. Ninth Circuit opinion
Rank #3
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
Why was a change to the injunction contested?
The proposed revision raised a broader question than whether Epic and Google wanted to resolve their dispute: how a court should treat a negotiated deal when changing an injunction that also serves competition-related purposes.
In a January 2026 amicus brief, the Federal Trade Commission argued that the district court should consider the public interest and how the proposed injunction related to the parties’ private settlement. The FTC warned that benefits to the companies might not fully address competition concerns. Those were the FTC’s arguments, not a judicial finding that the agreement was unlawful or the court’s stated reason for the July withdrawal. FTC amicus brief
Rank #4
- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
What is different in Australia?
On September 2, 2026, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission authorized specified conduct tied to the Epic-Google settlement in Australia through September 30, 2032. Its determination covers matters including Google Play service fees and the display and use of alternative payment options. This is an Australian regulatory authorization, not a U.S. court order or approval of the requested U.S. injunction revision. ACCC announcement
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Key dates at a glance
| Date | Development | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| September 12, 2025 | The Ninth Circuit affirmed the injunction. | The appellate ruling left the injunction, including developer opt-out protection for catalog access, in place. |
| October 29, 2025 | Google says injunction-related changes took effect for apps on mobile and tablet form factors serving U.S. users. | Google’s policy summary described external links, alternative billing, and related options, subject to its program rules. |
| March 4, 2026 | Epic and Google announced a new agreement and asked the district court to enter a revised injunction. | The request was not itself a court-approved replacement. |
| July 14–15, 2026 | The renewed joint motion was withdrawn and the court vacated the planned July 16 hearing. | The court directed the parties to address compliance with the existing injunction. |
| July 22, 2026 | Google says its third-party U.S. app-store catalog access and store program became effective. | These were Google’s implementation and program changes, separate from approval of a revised injunction. |
| September 2, 2026 | The ACCC authorized specified settlement terms for Australia through September 30, 2032. | The authorization applies in Australia, not the United States. |
Google’s timeline and policy descriptions are published on its developer-policy update; the U.S. procedural events are recorded in the district court docket index.
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- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
