Epic to launch an App Store competing with Apple on iPhones in Europe

In a recent turn of events, Apple has approved Epic Games’ developer account in Sweden. This move will enable the company to introduce a rival app store on iPhones in Europe, in accordance with the new antitrust regulation known as the Digital Markets Act.

The approval comes after a dispute between Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney and Apple, where Sweeney accused Apple of retaliating against the company for lawsuits and criticism on social media by blocking their developer account in Sweden. This action was based on an email from Apple App Store chief Phil Schiller to Sweeney.

The conflict between Epic Games and Apple highlights one of the initial challenges faced by the European DMA in regulating technology giants. The incident raised concerns about whether the fines and penalties outlined in the law would be enough to discourage the behavior targeted by the legislation. However, Apple’s swift reversal in this case suggests that European regulators have the ability to enforce the law.

In response to the approval of their developer account, Epic Games issued a statement expressing their appreciation for the European Commission’s commitment to holding gatekeepers accountable under the Digital Markets Act. Apple’s App Store has long been criticized for taking a significant cut of game purchases and online subscriptions, and for restricting the installation of apps on iPhones to its platform.

The European DMA now requires Apple to allow third-party app stores on iPhones in Europe. However, Apple’s decision to charge a fee of half a euro per download from these third-party stores has been met with criticism from app developers.

Following Epic Games’ announcement, European regulators indicated that they would be seeking clarification from Apple regarding the incident. Tim Sweeney later revealed on social media that Apple had allowed Epic Games to launch their store after an inquiry from the European Commission.

The ongoing conflict between Epic Games and Apple dates back to 2020 when Epic Games attempted to bypass Apple’s 30% cut of App Store sales by updating Fortnite. In response, Apple removed Fortnite from its stores, leading to a legal battle between the two companies.

A spokesperson for Apple confirmed that Epic Games’ account had been reinstated after the company agreed to adhere to Apple’s platform policies. Epic Games plans to use the account to release Fortnite for iPhones in Europe, as well as their own Epic Games store.

The approval of Epic Games’ developer account in Sweden marks a significant development in the ongoing dispute between the company and Apple.