Epic Games has announced plans to launch the popular game Fortnite and its own app store, the Epic Games Store, on iOS devices in the European Union in the coming months. This became possible thanks to the new App Store rules, forcedly introduced under pressure from the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Return of Fortnite to iOS
After almost four years of absence from the iOS platform, Fortnite may return to iPhone and iPad in the European Union. Epic Games announced that it has already submitted applications to Apple for approval of both the Fortnite game itself and the Epic Games Store application store, reports the resource 9to5mac.com.
Fortnite was removed from the App Store in August 2020 after Epic Games violated the rules of the Apple app store by offering users an alternative way to purchase the in-game currency V-Bucks, bypassing the Apple payment system. The return of Fortnite to iOS was made possible thanks to the recently passed Digital Markets Act in the EU, which obliged Apple to open its ecosystem to alternative app stores and payment systems. Epic Games lobbied hard for this law to pass and now hopes to introduce similar rules in the US and other countries.
Challenges and Compliance
However, the process of bringing Fortnite back to iPhone, as noted, will not be easy. Apple has introduced a number of rules and fees for alternative app stores. Firstly, there is mandatory verification and approval of applications, which can take months. Secondly, there is the so-called Core Technology Fee – a fee of 50 euro cents for each application installation if the number of downloads exceeds a million per year.
These terms have sparked outrage and criticism from developers and companies, including Epic Games and Spotify, who believe Apple is still not fully compliant with the DMA. At the same time, the European Commission began an official investigation into Apple’s new rules, having previously recognized them as violating antitrust laws, notes NIX Solutions.
Despite the challenges, Epic Games is determined to launch Fortnite on iOS in the EU within the next few months. We’ll keep you updated as this story develops.