The long-standing legal battle between Epic Games and Google over 'exclusivity controversies' is finally nearing its conclusion.

On the 4th (local time), both parties jointly submitted documents including a settlement agreement to the San Francisco Federal District Court. These documents contain the terms aimed at resolving the antitrust lawsuit initiated by Epic Games in 2020.

Under the settlement, Google will streamline the download and installation process for third-party app stores that meet security and safety standards, and allow developers to use alternative payment methods via in-app or external web links. It also includes a reduction in service fees to between 9% and 20% per transaction when alternative payment methods are used.

The conclusion of the settlement document specifies that these provisions will remain in effect until 2032, which is expected to foster competition within the Android platform. It also confirms that developers will be able to apply Google's fee reductions immediately.

Meanwhile, this agreement is slated to be reviewed during a hearing on December 11th at Courtroom 11 in the San Francisco Federal District Court. If Judge James Donato approves the settlement, the legal dispute between the two companies will be fully resolved. This follows the mutual withdrawal of the antitrust lawsuit between Google and Samsung in July, marking another significant conclusion in this area.

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, stated on X, "This settlement is a comprehensive solution that stands in stark contrast to Apple's closed model, which blocks all competing app stores and leaves their own payment method as the only means of competition," expressing his respect for Google's decision.