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Apple has more or less killed any plans Epic had for developing an Epic-owned App Store for iOS. It’s a decision that could end up hurting Apple in the long run. Over the past several years, the Fortnite maker has been battling it out with Apple in court over Apple’s decision to pull Fortnite from the App Store on iOS devices. This left iOS users with no way to download or install Fortnite. Apple’s decision was a direct result of Epic trying to go around the App Store rules to offer players a way to buy VBucks (Fortnite’s premium currency) so Epic could skirt around Apple’s licensing fees.
Epic did the same thing on Android and it resulted in the same outcome. Google pulled Fortnite from the Play Store. With Android, however, players at least had an alternative way to get the game. Because Android allows sideloading, Epic simply created the Epic App Store APK which you could install, and you could grab Fortnite from this app. Apple had no such option. Fast forward a few years later and Apple, as part of the Digital Markets Act in the EU, would allow Epic to develop its own app store to be made available on iOS devices. Thus bringing Fortnite back to iOS.
However, Epic needs an iOS Developer account to do this. And Apple has now reportedly canceled that account. Which, at least for now, forces Epic to put its plans for an iOS app store on hold.
Epic says it will continue to fight Apple for its App Store plans
Epic may be forced to put things on pause for now, but that may not be the case forever. In its official blog post talking about the account cancellation, Epic says that Apple’s decision violates the DMA. It now plans to fight Apple on this decision in hopes that the EU regulatory system will reverse this decision.
“The DMA requires Apple to allow third-party app stores, like the Epic Games Store,” Epic says. The company continues by stating that “In terminating Epic’s developer account, Apple is taking out one of the largest potential competitors to the Apple App Store. They are undermining our ability to be a viable competitor and they are showing other developers what happens when you try to compete with Apple or are critical of their unfair practices.”
Epic won’t go down without a fight and it’s going to do what it can to try and get the Epic Store onto iOS in the EU. However, if it isn’t successful, it may still be able to bring Fortnite back to iOS in the EU. According to The Verge, Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney said in a briefing that other third-party app stores in the EU may be how this happens.
For now, Fortnite on iOS isn’t available in a native capacity. But it can still be played through other means, like with GeForce NOW. If you use iOS and you play Fortnite, this is your best bet in doing so on your iOS device. At least until Epic potentially gets a native iOS version back on the platform.
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