Epic Games has emerged victorious in a significant confrontation with Apple, allowing Fortnite to make a comeback on iPhones. This development stems from Apple’s expulsion of Epic Games from the App Store three years earlier due to a breach of rules, sparking a lengthy legal battle that has now taken a positive turn, thanks to a new law in the European Union ensuring the game’s reinstatement, at least within Europe.
Fortnite will be available on iPhones again, but only within the European Union.
Apple originally intended to prohibit Epic Games entirely. However, a judge ruled against this action regarding the Unreal Engine account, a widely-used platform. When Epic Games sought to return to the App Store for app sales in Korea, Apple refused, stating that they could only return under the same terms as other developers.
The European Union has introduced the Digital Markets Act, requiring Apple to permit other app stores in the region, allowing Epic Games to regain recognition as a developer in the EU.
Epic Games has announced the recovery of their Apple developer account, enabling the return of Fortnite to the iPhone. Additionally, they intend to introduce an app marketplace named Epic Games Store on iOS by 2024, with the Epic Games Sweden team overseeing Fortnite operations in Europe and the mobile store.
Epic Games emerged victorious in the recent dispute, but CEO Tim Sweeney remains dissatisfied with Apple, attributing its actions to the new EU law and labeling it a “new horror show.” The ongoing conflict suggests that the battle is far from over, though Fortnite will make a comeback on iPhones, limited to Europe for now.
