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Epic Games\u2019 courtroom battle with Google is over, but it\u2019s reportedly going to affect how its CEO can speak about the tech giant for years for years to come. According to The Verge<\/em>, part of the settlement terms Epic had signed has a clause stating that Epic and Sweeney will have to speak positively about Google\u2019s competitiveness and app store operations going forward. \u201cEpic believes that the Google and Android platform, with the changes in this term sheet, are procompetitive and a model for app store \/ platform operations, and will make good faith efforts to advocate for the same,\u201d the clause reportedly reads.<\/p>\n Further, The Verge says the settlement terms between the companies will expire five years after Google is done rolling out changes to its service fees. Since Google expects to finish implementing changes worldwide by September 30, 2027, Sweeney can\u2019t speak negatively about the app store until after September 30, 2032.<\/p>\n Sweeney is one of the most vocal critic of how Apple and Google operate their app stores, which had led to several lawsuits between the companies. He once called both Apple and Google \u201cgangster-style businesses\u201d that will \u201calways continue\u201d to be engaged in illegal practices and just pay the fine afterwards. Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Google in 2020, accusing it of illegal monopoly on app distribution and in-app billing services for Android devices. In 2023, Google lost the lawsuit. It then lost its appeal two years later, before the companies reached a settlement in November 2025. On March 4 this year, Google officially scrapped the 30 percent cut it takes from Play Store transactions, lowering it to 20 percent and even to 15 percent in some cases.<\/p>\n In response to the Google\u2019s decision, Epic Games is bringing back Fortnite<\/em> to the Play Store worldwide. \u201cGoogle is opening up Android all the way with robust support for competing stores, competing payments, and a better deal for all developers. So, we’ve settled all of our disputes worldwide. THANKS GOOGLE!\u201d Sweeney posted on X. Based on the clause in their settlement, future statements from the CEO about Google will need to carry a similar tone, in the next few years at least.<\/p>\n Update, March 5 2026, 2:13PM ET:<\/strong> Epic reached out to Engadget to share an important clarification: \u201cCriticizing Google is fair game on topics not related to app store distribution\/ fees,\u201d the company wrote on X, \u201cEpic and Google agreed to not disparage only on topics about the settlement.\u201d We\u2019ve updated the copy of our story to reflect the specificity of the non-disparagement agreement, and look forward to the ways in which Epic will certainly exercise its remaining capacity to be critical of Google.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n