Google announced Wednesday it will implement significant changes to its Play Store operations as part of a settlement with Epic Games, ending a legal battle that began in August 2020.

The most notable change involves reducing Google's commission fee on in-app purchases from the industry-standard 30 percent to 20 percent. The company will also charge an optional 5 percent fee for developers who choose to use Google's billing services.

The settlement documents, filed with a federal court in San Francisco, outline additional changes to Google's app store practices. These include establishing a new process for third-party app stores to operate on Android devices, making it easier for users to access alternative app marketplaces.

According to court documents released as part of the settlement, Google and Epic have also agreed to terms regarding what they call "metaverse browsers," representing a new class of applications, though specific details about this agreement remain heavily redacted.

The case originated when Epic Games challenged Google's app store policies in 2020, arguing that the tech giant's practices constituted anticompetitive behavior. The settlement represents a significant shift in the mobile app marketplace, potentially setting new precedents for how major platforms operate their digital storefronts.

The changes are expected to take effect following court approval of the settlement terms, marking what some observers describe as the end of the era of 30 percent app store commissions that had become standard across major digital platforms.