Epic Games’ announcement marks the latest development in its ongoing rivalry with Apple. The tech giant and the game maker have been at odds for years over Apple’s App Store policies and commission structure. Epic’s legal challenge against Apple, alleging anti-competitive behavior, resulted in a mixed verdict. While the court ruled that Apple was not a monopoly, it did require the company to allow developers to direct customers to alternative payment methods within their apps. This decision had a significant impact on the developer community at large. When Apple unveiled its plans to comply with the EU’s DMA, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney criticized the new rules, calling them ‘malicious compliance’ filled with ‘junk fees.’ He pledged to continue fighting against them. In response, Apple terminated Epic’s developer account, labeling the game maker a ‘threat’ to the iOS ecosystem. However, Apple reinstated the account shortly after the EU launched an investigation into the matter. Whether Epic Games’ plans to bring Fortnite back to iPhones and iPads will come to fruition remains uncertain, given Apple’s previous actions. Nonetheless, the announcement signifies Epic’s determination to compete with Apple through its own game store on Apple’s key platforms.
Fortnite Returns to EU iPads, Thanks to EU’s Digital Markets Act
