Epic Games stated that within the scope of its 2023 evaluation, Apple reactivated the developer account and thus users FortniteAnnounced that they can download again on iPhones. Epic first launched the game store and Fortnitehad announced plans to bring it to iOS, but it was unclear whether Apple would provide developer accounts.
The European Union’s Digital Markets Act brings change
In 2020, after Epic started using its own internal app payment option in the iOS version, Apple canceled Epic’s developer account, and this triggered a long legal battle over whether Apple had anti-competitive behavior. But even though the court case was over and neither Apple nor Epic emerged with a decisive victory, Apple refused to reactivate Epic’s developer account.
The situation has changed with the entry into force of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The new rules force Apple to open its iOS ecosystem to third-party app stores in the EU. Epic Games states that it plans to open its iOS store in the EU later this year.
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, announced that Apple will launch Epic Games Store in Europe and Fortnitehas taken a good faith step in the fight against antitrust by providing a developer account to Epic Games Sweden AB to operate stated.
Despite this, Sweeney and many developers continue to criticize Apple’s new policies. Apple’s new fee regulation for developers to offer their apps on third-party stores and use alternative payment options makes this path less attractive for developers.