After their highly publicized dispute, Apple announced that they will be reinstating Epic Games’ access to publish iOS apps in Europe, effectively ending the conflict between the two companies. This means that Epic Games can now continue with their plans to launch the Epic Games Store and bring Fortnite back to iOS in Europe.
Last month, Epic made headlines when they claimed they would be able to bring Fortnite and the Epic Games Store back to iOS because of Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which recently went into effect. This law requires Apple to allow third-party app stores for the first time. However, earlier this week, Epic’s European developer account was terminated. This decision came after Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney publicly criticized Apple’s practices and their handling of a €1.84 billion fine by the European Commission for anticompetitive behavior.
In a statement, an Apple spokesperson confirmed that Epic’s European account, known as Epic Sweden AB, will be restored. They also mentioned that Epic has committed to following the rules, including Apple’s DMA policies.
In response to the resolution, Epic published an update to their blog post about the dispute, declaring that this decision is a clear indication that the European Commission will take action to enforce the Digital Markets Act and hold companies accountable. They also confirmed their plans to move forward with the launch of the Epic Games Store and bring Fortnite back to iOS in Europe.
This disagreement between Apple and Epic began due to Apple’s strict policies on in-app payments. Sweeney has been a vocal critic of Apple’s 30% commission on in-app purchases, but with the implementation of the new DMA law, third-party marketplaces like the Epic Games Store can now operate on iOS, reducing Apple’s control over apps in Europe.
