Apple allows Epic Games to restore Fortnite

Tech giant backs down from prolonged dispute with game maker following European regulatory pressure

Under European regulatory pressure, Apple eased its dispute with Epic Games, allowing Epic to bring Fortnite and its game store to iPhones and iPads in Europe. Earlier this week, Apple had moved to prevent Epic from launching a store and reintroducing the game, which Apple removed from the App Store in 2020 due to Epic’s violation of its in-app payment rules.

Apple’s choice to welcome Epic comes after the EU’s Thursday deadline for major tech firms to adhere to the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This regulation prohibits Apple and Google from dictating which apps can be distributed on devices using the iOS and Android operating systems.

Thierry Breton, the EU’s industry chief, stated that regulators had cautioned Apple about blocking Epic’s potential return earlier this week.

“I am pleased to note that following our discussions, Apple decided to reverse its decision regarding Epic’s exclusion. From Day 2, #DMA is already delivering very tangible results!” Breton tweeted.

Epic and Apple have been embroiled in a legal dispute since 2020, when Epic accused Apple of violating US antitrust regulations by charging commissions of up to 30% on in-app purchases on iOS devices. Epic lost its legal battle against Apple, and its deliberate violation of Apple’s rules as a protest resulted in its removal from Apple’s devices.

Other Apple critics, such as Spotify, which recently succeeded in convincing EU antitrust regulators to impose a €1.84 billion ($2 billion) fine for anticompetitive practices in the digital music market, have not been banned from Apple’s app store despite not intentionally breaking Apple’s rules.

Developer accounts are used as pawns in a broader conflict

The latest dispute between Apple and Epic revolved around Apple’s developer accounts, typically a routine administrative requirement for developers to sell apps on Apple devices.

Apple restored Epic Games’s developer account on Friday, just two days after blocking the company from launching its online marketplace on iPhones and iPads in Europe. Epic Games announced that it would proceed with its plans to reintroduce the Epic Games store and Fortnite to iOS in the continent.

Epic Games also commented, “This sends a strong signal to developers that the European Commission will act swiftly to enforce the Digital Markets Act and hold gatekeepers accountable.”

Earlier this week, Apple stated that it had terminated Epic’s account due to doubts about Epic’s willingness to comply with the new rules set by Apple to adhere to the DMA.

“After discussions with Epic, they have agreed to comply with the rules, including our DMA policies. Consequently, Epic Sweden AB has been allowed to re-sign the developer agreement and has been reinstated into the Apple Developer Program,” Apple said in a statement.