Apple Allows Epic Games Store App on iOS

After a long and dramatic legal battle, Apple has allowed Epic Games to launch its own third-party app store for iOS in Europe.

Epic Games and Apple have been locked in a bitter legal battle since 2020, after Epic Games accused the San Cupertino-based company of restrictions it places on other in-app purchase methods and how much the company receives from App Store downloads. The lawsuit, originally filed in California, was mostly won by Apple, but the situation is slightly different in Europe. Many developers, including Epic, have protested Apple’s App Store practices, with one developer saying, “Apple is holding app providers to ransom like the mafia,” according to Wire.

But it seems the dispute has finally died down. Apple finally allowed Epic Games to launch its third-party app marketplace, but it wasn’t an easy road for Epic.

(Hero Art: Epic Games FB)

Epic Games Store Coming to iOS After Apple Allows App in Europe

The tech giant was forced by new sanctions in the EU’s Digital Makers Act to allow third-party app stores in March of this year. This isn’t the first time Apple has caved to EU regulations: the company famously had to get rid of its Lightning charger and replace it with USB-C in the iPhone 15 due to EU law.

Epic Games has begun developing an iOS version of the Epic Games Store that will feature games such as Fortniteto Apple. However, the company rejected the app twice, citing similarities in buttons in the Epic Games app.

Epic didn’t take this too kindly, as expected, and took to The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter to air its grievances. “Apple has rejected our Epic Games Store notarization application twice now,” it wrote on Twitter. “Apple’s rejection is arbitrary, obstructive, and violates the DMA, and we have shared our concerns with the European Commission.”

The appeal worked. Less than a day later, Epic announced that their application had been accepted. According to HypebeastAccording to Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, the permission is only temporary, but he also stated firmly, “We will fight this.”

There’s no word yet on when the Epic Games Store will finally be available to download on iOS.

This article was first published Lifestyle Asia Bangkok

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