Epic Games announced Fortnite is coming back to iOS devices in Europe this year. It will do so by leveraging the EU’s new Digital Markets Act law which requires Apple to allow third-party app stores.
Fortnite was banned from iOS in 2020 after Epic introduced direct payments bypassing Apple’s 30% fee on transactions. Epic sued Apple but largely lost, although Apple did lose on one anti-steering count.
However, the DMA law will force Apple to comply with requirements allowing alternative payment systems and app stores in the EU. Epic’s Tim Sweeney believes Apple has a “devious plan” to undermine competition through exclusivity terms and new “Junk Fees.”
Sweeney says Apple proposes it can block Epic’s own Epic Games Store with Fortnite from launching. Epic aims to bring its store to iOS as the 7th biggest in the world, competing with Apple’s App Store.
Epic supports app screening but rejects Apple controlling competition and collecting fees on transactions it isn’t processing. Epic will keep arguing Apple’s behavior is illegal.
Separately, Epic recently won a similar lawsuit against Google’s app store practices.
