Did Google Play commission fees force gamers to pay more for in-game items?
The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) will begin full hearings on the matter starting on the 6th. Elizabeth Coll, who is leading the class action, has claimed over £1 billion (approx. 1.78 trillion won) in damages from Google.
The lawsuit covers eligible individuals and businesses in the UK who purchased paid apps, in-app content, or subscriptions on Google Play between October 2015 and July 2026. Coll's legal team contends that Google restricted competition in the app distribution and payment markets while charging developers commission rates of up to 30%, part of which was passed on to buyers in higher prices. Approximately 20 million consumers and businesses are involved in the lawsuit.
While game developers pay the commission directly to Google, users effectively bear the burden if developers factor those costs into item pricing. The trial will evaluate whether Google unfairly restricted competition and whether consumers ended up paying more as a result. Google countered that Android users are free to choose other apps and app stores, and that its Google Play commission rates remain low.
Gaming represents a significant portion of the lawsuit, with in-game coins and gems included in the claim. Filings submitted to the court by the claimants in 2022 indicated that most of the relevant spending originated from games.
If the tribunal rules in favor of the claimants' allegations regarding excessive fees and passed-on costs, it will establish legal grounds to compensate UK buyers. The extent to which the commission burden was passed on to consumer prices will be the central factor in determining damages. The outcome of the trial could also set a precedent for future app market commission disputes.
Meanwhile, a 2024 survey of domestic app developers showed that 70.4% of respondents cited excessive commissions as the biggest issue with in-app payments.
