The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ordered a formal investigation into Google’s restrictive app store policies affecting real-money gaming platforms, says a report by news agency Reuters.
This comes in the wake of online gaming platform WinZO filing a complaint in 2022, alleging discriminatory treatment by Google’s Play Store policies.
The platform argued that Google’s updated gaming app policy created an uneven playing field by selectively permitting certain game categories.
Allegations Against Google
The CCI’s preliminary assessment suggests Google may have violated fair competition principles by granting preferential access to specific real-money game categories, excluding developers offering diverse gaming experiences, and creating a market structure that disadvantages some app developers.
Likely Implications
This investigation adds to Google’s existing regulatory challenges in India, following previous penalties related to Android market dominance. The CCI official is expected to complete the probe within 60 days.
The investigation could potentially reshape app store policies, likely creating more equitable access for gaming platforms across different categories.
