Following Apple’s announcement of allowing third-party app stores or “alternate marketplaces” on iOS in the European Union, Epic Games has announced that it will launch an Epic mobile games store on the iPhone in the European Union.And with that Fortnite will be available on iOS again later this year. It’s been three years since Fortnite has been unavailable on iOS.
“Later this year Fortnite will return to Europe on iOS through the Epic Games Store. (Shoutout DMA – an important new law in the EU making this possible). @Apple, the world is watching,” Epic posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Why Fortnite was removed from App Store
In 2020, Fortnite was taken down from iOS App Store as it violated Apple’s App Store guidelines.
Epic Games attempted to introduce new payment methods for in-game purchases on Fortnite’s mobile versions. The new methods would have allowed users to make cheaper in-app purchases, as it bypassed Apple’s (also Google’s) app store cuts. However, both Apple and Google removed Fortnite from their respective digital stores within hours, sparking a legal battle with Epic that has recently concluded.
Even though Epic was unsuccessful in its legal battle against Apple, the US court forced the iPhone maker to introduce third-party payment options. The company fared better against Google, winning the case against Google with the court calling out the tech giant’s practices monopolistic.
As the EU’s Digital Markets Act goes into effect starting March 7, developers will be allowed to distribute apps and receive payments on iOS outside of Apple’s App Store. However, Apple will still require these apps to undergo their “notarization” approval process, aside from human and automated checks.
Epic’s CEO, Tim Sweeney, criticised Apple’s restrictions and policies, referring to them as “hot garbage.” But, it is letting Epic bring back Fortnite on iPhone. Epic says that it will continue to fight against Apple, arguing that “Apple is breaking the law.”
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