Fortnite left the App Store in 2020 after a heated argument over implementing a microtransaction purchase system in violation of Apple Store policies. This led to the game being kicked out of the App Store. In fact, Epic Games brought Apple to a lawsuit that is still ongoing today. However, everything could change throughout 2023 after the new law on digital markets of the European Union comes into force. This law would force Apple to allow the installation of apps and games from different app stores and apparently from the CEO of Epic Games takes for granted the arrival of Fortnite on the iPhone.
EU digital markets law would allow Fortnite to return to iPhone
The Fortnite controversy in the App Store began, as we said, in August 2020 after the implementation of a virtual currency purchase system that violated the policies of the App Store. These policies concerned the 30% commission on any in-app purchases that goes directly to Apple. From now on, Epic Games and Apple have been locked in serious charges with several pending convictions. In fact, Apple won’t change anything until the award is final.
From that point, different ways to play Fortnite emerged, but none directly from Epic Games, since Apple had unilaterally banned the game from the App Store. However, this may change with the advent of the European Union’s Digital Marketplace Act.
The arrival of alternative stores to iOS and iPadOS would be the key
This new law entered into force on January 2, 2023 and its objective is none other than regulate the behavior of big business who operate in the European digital market. One of the main objectives is none other than force the App Store to be more transparent, In addition to the introduction of new rules aimed at preventing discrimination and abuse of dominant position by companies like Apple in the digital market.
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No Fortnite on the App Store until the judgment is final
Other measures include requiring Apple to allow app developers to use alternative payment platforms to the App Store.
And the arrival of new platforms for installing applications outside the App Store They’re making Epic Games lucky because it could mean the official return of Fortnite to the iPhone. This is how the CEO of the company celebrated it on his Twitter account:
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) January 1, 2023
However, not everything will be as simple as they paint it from Epic Games. The arrival of these alternative stores could mean Apple’s new rules such as comprehensive application control that could have an additional cost that all developers would have to bear and another series of aspects that would have to do with user security and privacy. We will finally see how it all ends, but it does not seem that Cupertino is very happy with this new movement of the European Union, but it must comply with it to continue in the digital market of this territory.
