After a long and dramatic legal battle, Apple has allowed Epic Games to launch its own third-party app store on iOS in Europe.
Epic Games and Apple have been embroiled in a bitter legal battle ever since 2020 after Epic Games accused the San Cupertino-based company of the restrictions it has against other in-app purchasing methods and the cut the company gets from App Store downloads. The lawsuit, originally filed in California, was mostly won by Apple, but it’s a bit of a different story in Europe. A number of developers, including Epic, have been protesting Apple’s practices in its App Store, with one developer saying, “Apple holds app providers ransom like the Mafia,” as per Wired.
But it seems the contentious battle is finally simmering down. Apple has finally allowed Epic Games to launch its third-party app marketplace, but it wasn’t exactly an easy road for Epic.
[Hero image: Epic Games FB]
The Epic Games Store will be available on iOS after Apple allows the app in Europe
The tech giant was compelled by newly sanctioned rules in the Digital Makers Act in the EU to allow third-party app stores in March of this year. This isn’t the first time Apple conceded to EU rules: the company famously had to do away with its Lightning charger and replace it with the USB-C in the iPhone 15 due to an EU law.
Epic Games proceeded to submit an iOS version of the Epic Games Store, which will include games like Fortnite, to Apple. However, the company rejected the app twice citing similarities in the buttons on Epic Games’ app.
Epic didn’t take too kindly to this as expected and went to The Platform Formerly Known as Twitter to air its grievances. “Apple has rejected our Epic Games Store notarization submission twice now,” it tweeted. “Apple’s rejection is arbitrary, obstructive, and in violation of the DMA, and we’ve shared our concerns with the European Commission.”
The appeal worked. Less than a day later, Epic announced that their submission has now been accepted. As per Hypebeast, the permission is only temporary according to Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, but also defiantly stated, “We’ll fight this”.
No word yet on when the Epic Games Store will finally be available for download on iOS.