Fortnite will return to iPhone and iPad thanks to Europe

Epic has planned the return of Fortnite to iPhone and iPad thanks to new changes to the App Store caused by European regulations which requires, among other things, that third-party app stores be authorized.

Epic will launch its own app store for iPhone and iPad, the Epiceno Game Store, which will include, among many other games, the popular Fortnite, meaning millions of gamers will once again be able to enjoy it on their Apple devices, something For now, this is only possible if you use a cloud gaming service.

Fortnite will return to iOS in Europe in 2024, distributed by the next @EpicGames

Store for iOS. Stay tuned for more details as we determine the regulatory timeline. We will continue to argue to courts and regulators that Apple is breaking the law. https://t.co/MHh6EGVinC

– Epic Games Newsroom (@EpicNewsroom) January 25, 2024

As we can read in a tweet from the Epic and Fortnite account, “Fortnite will return to iOS in Europe in 2024, distributed by the new Epic Games app store for iOS”. Although Apple now allows alternative app stores and Epic benefits from this, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has continued to harshly criticize Apple, saying that Apple’s announced changes are a malicious interpretation of European regulations.

They force developers to choose between App Store exclusivity and store terms, which will be illegal under the DMA, or accept a new illegal anti-competitive system riddled with unwanted new fees on downloads and new Apple taxes on unprocessed payments.

Sweeney complains in particular about the legalization of requests and the commission of $0.50 per user per year once one million installations are exceeded. App notarization means that even if Apple allows apps from third-party stores to be installed, Apple will have to review those apps to allow them. The commission of $0.50 will be paid to any application installed more than a million times per year, now for each user and Each year, a commission of 50 euro cents will be paid

. That doesn’t sound like much, but when you count the millions of users who can install Fortnite each year… Apple’s revenue can be significant. Is it fair for Apple to charge this for an app that doesn’t go through its store? Well, it will depend on what everyone thinks, but at the end of the day, Epic is using Apple’s iPhones and iPads to make a lot of money… it doesn’t seem unfair to me that they’re paying something for it.

What would Sweeney think about allowing third-party skin stores in his game? And Epic doesn’t see a single cent of everything these stores make? In this case, your opinion is surely not so much in favor of user freedom and the free market.