Google proposes to open Play Store to extra real-money video games in India

Google has proposed sweeping modifications to its Play Store and promoting insurance policies in India, aiming to permit extra real-money gaming apps onto its platforms in a bid to settle an ongoing antitrust case with an area on-line gaming platform WinZO.

On Wednesday, India’s competitors watchdog issued a public notice (PDF) inviting feedback on a “commitment proposal” from Google, providing to develop entry to its Play Store and promoting coverage for extra real-money gaming apps within the South Asian market.

Google proposed to switch its present pilot program by permitting the distribution of all real-money video games within the nation — that are “self-declared by developers as permissible online real-money games as per applicable laws/jurisprudence” — on Google Play.

However, the builders are additionally required to submit proof that an authoritative third-party physique has declared the app to be a “game of skill,” the corporate proposed.

In September 2022, Google launched a pilot program to permit day by day fantasy sports activities and rummy video games on its Play Store in India. The transfer got here after a 2021 ruling by India’s Supreme Court that categorized fantasy sports activities as “games of skill” moderately than playing — and due to this fact “legal.”

Shortly after the pilot introduced, on-line gaming platform WinZO filed a complaint with the Delhi High Court, calling this system discriminatory for excluding different real-money video games. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) took up the case and, in November final yr, ordered a formal probe into Google’s insurance policies for real-money gaming apps.

In January final yr, Google introduced it could develop assist for real-money gaming apps on the Play Store in India, Brazil, and Mexico. However, the corporate paused that rollout in June 2024 and acknowledged it could proceed to permit apps already included within the 2022 India pilot to stay on the platform.

Alongside providing to develop its Play Store for all real-money video games self-declared by builders, Google proposed to replace its Developer Program Policies to mirror the replace. The firm additionally acknowledged that it could finalize an “appropriate business model” for real-money recreation builders.

Similarly, Google has proposed to permit “games of skill” to be marketed in India the place the app maker offers proof by a 3rd get together that it’s a recreation of ability and never playing.

The acknowledged third events on this case may even be trade associations such because the All India Gaming Federation, E-Gaming Federation, or the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports.

Google stated it could start permitting compliant real-money video games on its Play Store in India inside 120 days of the CCI’s approval, whereas associated advert coverage modifications would take impact inside 150 days of the regulator’s order.

“We’re pleased the CCI is market testing our proposed framework for real-money games (RMGs) in India,” a Google spokesperson stated in a press release emailed to TechCrunch. “This development reflects our constructive discussions with the CCI and the Indian developer community along with our commitment to building a more open and safe ecosystem for RMG apps across Google Play and Google Ads.”

Notably, the proposal, whether it is accepted by the CCI after public suggestions, would profit Google, which stands to earn a share of income from a broader vary of real-money gaming apps and their advertisements on its platforms.

Real-money gaming dominates India’s on-line gaming market, accounting for almost 86% of whole trade income — ₹274.38 billion ($3 billion) in 2024 — per a joint report by WinZO and the Interactive Entertainment and Innovation Council (IEIC) launched earlier this yr. However, its share is anticipated to say no barely to 80% by 2029, as non-real-money video games develop in reputation and the general market expands to ₹785.51 billion ($8.9 billion).

Google’s newest proposal may additionally provide a lift to builders at the moment distributing their apps outdoors the Play Store — together with by way of APK recordsdata on their very own web sites. However, the CCI’s investigation remains to be ongoing, and the regulator has but to find out whether or not Google engaged in discriminatory practices on this area.

The probe provides to a rising listing of antitrust challenges for Google in India, the place the U.S.-headquartered tech big has already been fined for allegedly abusing its dominance by way of Android and the Play Store. The firm lately approached the Supreme Court to attraction one among these rulings and contest the CCI’s findings. The case is anticipated to be listed for listening to subsequent month.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the CCI and the wider RMG ecosystem, and are confident our proposed framework will empower Indian developers, grow the digital economy, and prioritize user safety,” Google’s spokesperson stated.