After four years of absence, Fortnite, one of the world’s most popular games, is making a comeback on the iPhone—but only in the European Union.
Epic Games Store Launches on iOS and Android
Today marks the launch of the Epic Games Store on both Android and iOS. However, on iOS, it’s available exclusively in Europe, while Android users can access it worldwide. Currently, the store features just three games: Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys. If you’re on an iPhone, you’ll need to be in Europe to access it.
Background and Analysis
The Epic Games Store is operated by Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite. The story of Fortnite’s removal from the Apple App Store is well-known by now. Here’s a brief recap.
Four years ago, under the direction of CEO Tim Sweeney, Epic made changes to Fortnite’s digital payments that violated Apple’s developer terms. Apple responded by removing Fortnite from the App Store, sparking a long and bitter legal and public relations battle between the two companies across multiple countries.
In the US, a court ruling offered minor victories to Epic and other developers pushing for more freedom on Apple’s platform. However, the overall status quo remained largely intact.
The Impact of the Digital Markets Act in Europe
In Europe, the situation played out differently. The introduction of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) by EU legislators and regulators had significant implications for how Apple and Google operate their app stores. The law, among other things, mandated that Apple allow third-party app stores (essentially, sideloading) on the iPhone.
Apple was less than enthusiastic about complying with the DMA, citing valid concerns about user security and privacy. However, critics pointed out that Apple was more interested in maintaining its control over app revenue. Apple also repeatedly rejected Epic’s attempts to launch its app store, citing various technical reasons, amid public criticism from Sweeney.
Despite these hurdles, Epic has now managed to launch its app store on iPhone. While the iPhone version of the store doesn’t offer as many options or perks as its PC counterpart, Epic is working to bring more developers on board.
Epic also plans to release its games on other alternative app stores on iOS and Android, like AltStore PAL.
Opinion: Users Are Still the Losers
The journey to this point has been long, frustrating, and filled with animosity. The ongoing debate about who really won between Epic and Apple continues, but one thing is clear: users haven’t been the winners, regardless of where the blame lies.
