Fortnite and the Epic Games Store have been submitted to Apple for an iOS launch in the EU.
In a landmark move, Epic Games has announced the submission of the Epic Games Store for notarization to Apple, aligning with the European Union’s alternative app marketplace policy. This strategic step heralds the return of the immensely popular Fortnite to iOS devices across the EU, liberating users from the constraints of cloud gaming services. With an ambitious timeline set for the next few months, the gaming giant is poised to reintroduce Fortnite on iOS, with an iPad version also anticipated later in the year.
Epic Games was the first company to challenge both Apple and Google for their ill practices as gatekeepers. Epic Games has been in exile
Epic Games was the first company to challenge both Apple and Google for their ill practices as gatekeepers. Epic Games has been in exile from the App Store since 2020 after it found a way around to bypass Apple’s hefty 30% revenue cut on all in-app purchases. Tim Sweeney of Epic said both the App Store and Google’s Play Store are making more money from creative works than the creators themselves.
After violating Apple’s policies on the App Store, the technology giant threw Epic from its platform entirely with no way to return. However, the EU’s DMA legislation has been a blessing for companies pitting against gatekeepers such as Google and Apple that put unnecessary entry barriers and hefty fees on apps from operating on these devices.
The gaming landscape was previously disrupted by Fortnite’s removal from the iOS App Store, a consequence of the prolonged legal tussle between Apple and Epic Games. However, the tide has turned with Apple’s adaptation to the EU’s regulations, enabling iPhone users to access apps via alternative marketplaces and directly from developers’ sites.
Apple’s introduction of a Core Technology Fee of 0.50 euros annually for apps installed outside the App Store marks a significant shift in the app economy. Although the fee is waived for the first million installs, it represents a substantial financial consideration for developers, particularly for Epic Games, which faces the fee for both its marketplace and each Fortnite installation.
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, has vocally criticized Apple’s response to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), labeling the new charges as “junk fees” and accusing Apple of “malicious compliance.” The European Commission’s recent preliminary declaration supports Sweeney’s stance, suggesting that Apple’s App Store policies may indeed contravene the DMA, prompting a fresh inquiry into the tech giant’s compliance with the act. This development signals a potential reshaping of app distribution and monetization within the EU’s digital marketplace.