Discussion
Google ends its 30 percent app store fee and welcomes third-party app stores
givemeethekeys: Why now?
indy: This together with Valve's work on Fex may mean that Android users will be able to install Steam on their devices
krunck: 'Google says that developers will be able to offer alternative billing systems alongside its own or "guide users outside of their app to their own websites for purchases." 'Finally. As a de-Googled phone owner I am glad that this will allow alternative payments where I can pay developers directly without Google taking it's protection money.
yndoendo: Google changed the way their are the Gatekeepers. It now is tied to requiring a software developer ID attached to a real person; Developer Verification. [0]And how side-loading will have to go through ADB versus just allowing the application to be installed by a file manager.This is why GrapheneOS and /e/OS have been popping up, along with Linux based alternatives.[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47251763
sheepscreek: Why are people thanking Google? That’s like another slap on the face of Epic who burned through their millions to put a (soft) end to Google and Apple’s dominance. They still get to keep a significant cut.
kgwxd: Epic still deserves all the slaps it gets. They didn't do it for the good of the people. They just want to abuse their own position more efficiently.
mqus: I only trust this once they have finally detailed how they will allow "easy sideloading" (See one of the last fdroid news on this, currently google is on track to basically ban sideloading as it exists) and what exactly means "registered app store program".
TGower: Fex is not coming to Android https://wiki.fex-emu.com/index.php/FAQ
vladxyz: Fex is already running on android, within things like https://github.com/utkarshdalal/GameNative
jadar: This is kind of a misleading title. While they "ended" the 30-percent cut, they are keeping a 20-percent cut.
onlyrealcuzzo: The majority of which is going directly to Visa, Amex, Mastercard.
pingou: Am I correct that if you earn less than a million dollar a year and wish to continue using Google services it changes nothing? You will pay 10% service fee + 5% billing fee, the same as the old 15% fee?
Legend2440: Nah, credit card fees are like 1.5 to 3.5%.
