After four years of absence, Fortnite is returning to iOS, but this time, it will be exclusively available for European players.
The ongoing dispute between Epic Games and Apple regarding the App Store fees has taken an unexpected turn with Apple’s announcement of upcoming changes to iOS in the EU. In an effort to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which is designed to regulate major tech companies, Apple will permit “sideloading,” allowing apps to be installed from sources other than the App Store.
These significant changes will enable developers to distribute iOS apps through alternative channels or even establish their own app marketplaces. Apple has long opposed the idea of allowing iOS developers to offer their apps through sideloading, arguing that it could compromise the platform’s security and privacy standards, a practice allowed by Google Play for Android devices.
Following these changes, Epic Games intends to bring back Fortnite, the popular battle royale game, which is evolving into its own digital marketplace, to iOS this year. In addition to this, Epic also announced that it will launch a version of the Epic Games Store on the platform in the EU.
Apple’s App Store overhaul in the EU marks a significant departure from the current state, but Epic Games is not satisfied with the specifics of how Apple will implement its DMA compliance. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney criticized Apple’s plans, describing them as “hot garbage” riddled with excessive fees.
Despite its ongoing battle against Apple’s policies, Epic is preparing for its re-entry into iOS. In addition to developing Fortnite and the Unreal Engine, Epic also operates the Epic Game Store, a digital platform for PC games that is also accessible on Macs. Similar to Apple, Epic earns revenue as a digital landlord through the Epic Game Store, but its 13% revenue share (allowing developers to keep 88%) and approach to in-app purchases are much less aggressive than Apple’s policies.
Epic clearly sees a lucrative future in expanding its software marketplace businesses. This vision is becoming increasingly evident in Fortnite, which has transformed from a simple third-person shooter game into a comprehensive portal for digital games, similar to Roblox. Fortnite now offers thousands of user-generated games in addition to its classic battle royale mode, including a new set of flashy titles developed by Epic that offer survival, racing, and rhythm gaming alternatives to the battle royale mode.