The ongoing battle between Epic Games, the popular game Fortnite maker, and tech giant Apple has reached a new boiling point. Epic accuses Apple of deliberately hindering the launch of its game store on iOS devices in Europe despite a recent EU ruling that would pave the way for such competition.
The conflict stems from Epic’s frustration with Apple’s strict control over its App Store. Apple takes a hefty 30% cut on all in-app purchases, a practice that Epic has long argued is anti-competitive. In 2020, Epic implemented a workaround within Fortnite that bypassed Apple’s payment system, leading to Apple retaliating by removing Fortnite from the App Store.
This sparked a legal battle that has ramifications far beyond Fortnite. The EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) was introduced to curb the dominance of large tech companies like Apple and Google. One of the key provisions of the DMA is the requirement for these companies to allow third-party app stores on their devices.
Epic saw the DMA as an opportunity to bring its game store to iOS users in Europe finally. The company announced plans to leverage its newly approved Swedish developer account. However, according to Epic, Apple abruptly terminated this account, effectively stalling the launch of the Epic Games Store on iOS in Europe.
Epic views this as a blatant violation of the DMA and a clear sign that Apple has no intention of allowing genuine competition on its platform. The company argues that the DMA was explicitly designed to address the power imbalance Apple is now exploiting by blocking rival app stores.
On the other hand, Apple maintains that it is simply upholding its App Store policies, ensuring a safe and secure user experience. The company argues that allowing third-party app stores would compromise this security and expose users to potential scams and malware.
This clash highlights the ongoing debate about the power wielded by tech giants like Apple. While Apple emphasizes user safety, Epic and others see it as a way to maintain its monopoly and stifle competition. The outcome of this battle will have significant implications for the future of app distribution and consumer choice on mobile devices.
Epic has vowed to continue fighting to bring competition to the iOS platform in Europe and worldwide. It remains to be seen how Apple will respond and whether European regulators will intervene to enforce the DMA. This ongoing saga promises to ripple effect on the entire gaming industry and the broader tech landscape.
