Apple Accuses Epic Games of Wanting a 'Free Ride'

[MacRumors]

Apple and Epic Games are facing off in Australia among other countries, and this week, Apple accused Epic Games of seeking a "free ride" on its platform. In a statement to MacRumors, Apple said that it will continue to fight for a ruling that respects its intellectual property.

"Epic is now asking to free ride on Apple's platform and dismantle every safeguard we've put in place to protect users and developers -- a request that goes well beyond the Court's ruling. We will continue to seek an outcome that respects our intellectual property and protects the safe, secure experience consumers and developers expect from our platform."

For context, Epic Games sued Apple in Australia way back in 2020, accusing the company of violating competition laws. In August 2025, Australia's federal court partially sided with Epic, deciding that Apple's rules prohibiting sideloading and alternative payment methods did indeed violate the Competition and Consumer Act.

The court hasn't decided on how it will address Apple's anti-competitive behavior, but Epic Games wants the court to permit sideloading on iPhones in Australia, with no fees paid to Apple.

Apple believes that Epic's request goes beyond what the court declared in its August ruling. While the judge said Apple's anti-sideloading rules violated competition law, the ruling also acknowledged that Apple has the right to be paid for its technology, and that Apple's security and privacy concerns are a valid reason to prohibit third-party app stores.

Apple and Epic Games had a case management hearing on October 17 ahead of additional hearings that will determine the measures that are put in place to address Apple's alleged violation. Epic Games has submitted its proposed remedies, and the court will now consider the arguments made by Epic Games and Apple.

An initial remedies hearing is set to take place in December, but the full relief hearing has been postponed until March 2026 to give Apple more time to consider and respond to what Epic Games has proposed.

While no decision has been reached, the initial ruling suggests that Apple could be forced to allow sideloading and alternate payment options in Australia, similar to what's happened in the European Union with the Digital Markets Act. Apple is concerned that the court will reach a decision that could create privacy and security concerns for consumers and expose them to increased risk.

Epic Games has claimed that Fortnite will eventually be returning to iOS in Australia as a result of the ruling.

Article Link: Apple Accuses Epic Games of Wanting a 'Free Ride'

 

[jz0309]

keep that popcorn supply steady ...

 

[germanbeer007]

Apple is 100% correct. Objectively. Apple risked billions in R&D and Epic just wants to take what Apple built and profit.

 

[Astuces iOS]

let's go another show time !

 

[DocMultimedia]

Epic does want a free ride. It's rather simple. But the legal system takes time. Hopefully the pointless Epic stuff fades away in the near future.

 

[BelgianChoklit]

I love this battle, I'm sure either one of them would sue the other one even in Antarctica.

And I'm loving every second of it.

 

[canadianreader]

I wouldn't call it a safe platform if all these anti-privacy settings are turned on by default 👇

 

[neomorpheus]

I want the choice to be able to load whatever i want in my devices.

Either stop your hypocrisy (its for your safety, not for our profits) censorship or allow proper sideloading.

Again, I dont understand apple's customers that insist in having LESS options, which conveniently works in favor of Apples coffers and worse, they insist in taking that option away from the ones that do want that option.

If I paid over 1 thousand dollar for a device, I should be able to do with it whatever I like, not what Tim Apple and Jobs ghoul spirit decides.

Edit thanks for confirming my point.

 

[now i see it]

Just revoke Epic's developer's license. Drama done.

 

[tyranne201]

it seems Apple CarPlay is the one that wants a free ride on automakers.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Oh Apple…
Always playing your old “greatest hits”

 

[skit911]

Apple and Epic Games are facing off in Australia among other countries, and this week, Apple accused Epic Games of seeking a "free ride" on its platform. In a statement to MacRumors, Apple said that it will continue to fight for a ruling that respects its intellectual property.

For context, Epic Games sued Apple in Australia way back in 2020, accusing the company of violating competition laws. In August 2025, Australia's federal court partially sided with Epic, deciding that Apple's rules prohibiting sideloading and alternative payment methods did indeed violate the Competition and Consumer Act.

The court hasn't decided on how it will address Apple's anti-competitive behavior, but Epic Games wants the court to permit sideloading on iPhones in Australia, with no fees paid to Apple.

Apple believes that Epic's request goes beyond what the court declared in its August ruling. While the judge said Apple's anti-sideloading rules violated competition law, the ruling also acknowledged that Apple has the right to be paid for its technology, and that Apple's security and privacy concerns are a valid reason to prohibit third-party app stores.

Apple and Epic Games had a case management hearing on October 17 ahead of additional hearings that will determine the measures that are put in place to address Apple's alleged violation. Epic Games has submitted its proposed remedies, and the court will now consider the arguments made by Epic Games and Apple.

An initial remedies hearing is set to take place in December, but the full relief hearing has been postponed until March 2026 to give Apple more time to consider and respond to what Epic Games has proposed.

While no decision has been reached, the initial ruling suggests that Apple could be forced to allow sideloading and alternate payment options in Australia, similar to what's happened in the European Union with the Digital Markets Act. Apple is concerned that the court will reach a decision that could create privacy and security concerns for consumers and expose them to increased risk.

Epic Games has claimed that Fortnite will eventually be returning to iOS in Australia as a result of the ruling.

Article Link: Apple Accuses Epic Games of Wanting a 'Free Ride'

Both are in the wrong here.

10 to 15% is more than fair on Apple’s side.

In regards to epic, they are just the most whiny, pathetic corporation I think I have ever seen. Maybe besides Spotify.

Nothing is free, especially an audience of over 2 billion people.

 

[GioGiusi]

I want the choice to be able to load whatever i want in my devices.

Either stop your hypocrisy (its for your safety, not for our profits) censorship or allow proper sideloading.

Again, I dont understand apple's customers that insist in having LESS options, which conveniently works in favor of Apples coffers and worse, they insist in taking that option away from the ones that do want that option.

If I paid over 1 thousand dollar for a device, I should be able to do with it whatever I like, not what Tim Apple and Jobs ghoul spirit decides.

Edit thanks for confirming my point.

You have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[iMac The Knife]

Haha, pot meet kettle! Apple's hypocrisy knows no bounds.

 

[GioGiusi]

Just revoke Epic's developer's license. Drama done.

Should have been done a long time ago.

 

[djphat2000]

It's amazing that Epic thinks it has a right to be on anyone's platform. But, at the same time has the right to NOT be on anyones platform.

 

[lapstags]

Eventually apples 30% fees will crumble. Instead of a decade of financial engineering via stock buybacks and sticking developers and customers with excessive fees they should have been innovating.

 

[Phaseangle]

Try making content on Epic's platform and check how much they take.

 

[djphat2000]

Eventually apples 30% fees will crumble. Instead of a decade of financial engineering via stock buybacks and stick developers and customers with excessive fees they should have been innovating.

CPU innovation seems to be doing pretty darn well no?

 

[Plutonius]

Is this really even news that Epic wants a free ride ?

 

[JonathanX64]

So first the capitalists had the audacity to call installing software you want on a computer you own «sideloading»

And now, the nerve to label publishing software built with a publicly available SDK as a «free ride»?

We don't hate them enough.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

Apple is 100% correct. Objectively. Apple risked billions in R&D and Epic just wants to take what Apple built and profit.

Meh. They sell the developer subscription. They get their due.

If epic makes good products that runs great on iPhones it will sell more iPhones.

Try making content on Epic's platform and check how much they take.

Well they take a 3.5% cut after your make a million if you use their Unreal engine.

And any Epic Games Store payments they pro process, developers will pay a 0% revenue share on their first $1,000,000 in revenue per app per year, and then the regular 88%/12% revenue share when they earn more than that…

So currently it’s 0% a year for every million… kind of a sweet deal.

https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/news/new-epic-games-store-webshops-and-revenue-share-update

 

[jz0309]

So first the capitalists had the audacity to call installing software you want on a computer you own «sideloading»

And now, the nerve to label publishing software built with a publicly available SDK as a «free ride»?

We don't hate them enough.

did you bother reading the article?

Apple believes that Epic's request goes beyond what the court declared in its August ruling. While the judge said Apple's anti-sideloading rules violated competition law, the ruling also acknowledged that Apple has the right to be paid for its technology, and that Apple's security and privacy concerns are a valid reason to prohibit third-party app stores.

 

[platinumaqua]

It's not a "free ride" when they're paying the developer fees. If Apple wants to use this logic, then apps selling physical goods and services will need to be booted too but they're not doing that.

 

[doolar]

Just let them sideload. I’m in the EU, I can choose another App Store, but I choose not to like probably the majority of iPhone users (iPhones have well over 50% of the smart phone market in my country). I don’t think anybody I know cares.