Fortnite, one of the world’s most popular video games, is set to return to iPhones across Europe and Android devices worldwide four years after it was removed from Apple and Google’s app stores. The return marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing antitrust dispute between Epic Games and the tech giants, which is heavily influenced by new European regulations.
According to the Financial Times, Fortnite’s reappearance on these platforms coincides with the launch of Epic Games’ own mobile app store, a development seen as a direct challenge to Apple and Google’s dominance. The move underscores the impact of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires digital “gatekeepers” like Apple and Google to open their platforms to rival app stores and payment systems.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has hailed the DMA as a watershed moment, saying “the tide is turning” as both Apple and Google face increasing pressure from regulators and courts around the world. The return of Fortnite to iPhones, as well as other popular Epic Games titles such as Fall Guys and Rocket League Sideswipe, will shake up the mobile gaming landscape as these games will now be available not only through the new Epic Games Store, but also through alternative app stores such as Aptoide and AltStore, which have gained prominence in Europe following the launch of the DMA.
In response to these regulatory changes, Apple pointed out that the DMA requires the company to provide new features to developers in the EU, and stressed that the company strives to balance user experience with privacy and security concerns. However, there is no comment from Google on the situation yet.
Read more: Epic Games vs. Apple: A Case Summary
Despite being removed from major app stores in 2020, Fortnite has maintained its popularity, especially on consoles. Data from Ampere Analysis shows that 35 million players played more than 600 million hours on Xbox and PlayStation in July, making Fortnite “by far the most successful game on those consoles,” according to Piers Harding-Rolls, an analyst at the research group.
The initial removal of Fortnite and other Epic Games titles from the App Store and Play Store in August 2020 resulted from Epic’s legal battle with Apple and Google over alleged monopolistic practices. Epic had circumvented mandatory in-app billing systems on those platforms, leading to a lawsuit and the subsequent banning of its games.
According to the Financial Times, the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which came into force earlier this year, is intended to limit the market power of digital gatekeepers. The legislation includes provisions to open up mobile operating systems to competing app stores and alternative distribution and payment methods. Companies had to comply with these new rules by March or face fines of up to 10 percent of their global turnover.
As the EU continues to examine Apple and Google’s compliance with the DMA, critics including Spotify have raised concerns about Apple’s new fee structure in the EU, which they say could discourage developers from exploring alternative distribution channels. Epic Games has also criticized the process required to install its Epic Games Store on iOS and Android, calling it “deliberately substandard,” with multiple steps and confusing settings designed to deter users.
Source: The Financial Times
