Following Epic Games’ victory that paved the way for Fortnite’s return to the App Store, Japan is stepping up with new regulations targeting Big Tech. Mirroring Europe’s approach, the country is introducing tougher rules aimed specifically at Apple and Google.
The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has already drafted guidelines to explain how the law should work. Under the upcoming Mobile Software Competition Act, both companies will be required to open up their app ecosystems, the guideline document mentions.
That means users in Japan could soon install third-party app stores and use different payment methods instead of being locked into the App Store or Google Play.
The law is set to be enforced from December 18, 2025, and it’s designed to stop Apple and Google from giving unfair advantages to their own services. They’ll no longer be allowed to restrict which apps can be set as default, block access to key smartphone features, or hoard user data that third-party developers can’t use.
This isn’t Japan’s first step, as back in May last year, the government began pushing for rule changes in app markets and payments to boost competition as well as curb the market supremacy of the two tech giants.
For years, developers have criticized both companies for tightly controlling their platforms and taking a large cut from in-app purchases. This law aims to fix that by making the app market more open.
There are still some exceptions for security reasons, but overall, Japan is making it clear, just like in the EU, app stores should be fair to their consumers.
