Epic Games Store Launches on iPhone in EU, Brings Fortnite Back to iOS

[MacRumors]

After a four-year absence, Fortnite is making its return to iPhones – but only for users in the European Union. This comeback is part of the broader launch of the Epic Games Store for iPhone, which went live today in the EU.

The return of Fortnite to iOS comes as a result of the EU's Digital Markets Act, which has forced Apple to allow third-party app marketplaces on its platform. Users in the EU can now download the Epic Games Store by visiting Epic's website on their iPhones.

Fortnite's availability is undoubtedly the headline feature of the Epic Games Store launch. The popular battle royale game was removed from the App Store in 2020 following a dispute between Epic and Apple over in-app purchase systems. Prior to that, Fortnite on iOS made more than $700 million over two years, while Apple collected more than $100 million in revenue from the 30 percent cut that it took from Fortnite in-app purchases.

Otherwise, the current game catalog in the iOS Epic Games Store is limited, featuring only a handful of Epic's own titles such as Fortnite and Rocket League Sideswipe. However, the company says it plans to expand the library over time and is in discussions with third-party mobile developers.

Going forward, Epic will have to deal with navigating Apple's new fee structure, including a "Core Technology Fee" of €0.50 per install per year after the first million installs. This fee applies to both the Epic Games Store itself and the games within it, effectively doubling the charge for popular titles like Fortnite. The EU commission is currently investigating whether Apple's new fee structure complies with the Digital Markets Act.

The Epic Games Store is only available on iPhones running iOS 17.4 or later, while iPad users will have to wait until the release of iPadOS 18 to access the store on their devices. Epic says it plans to expand the availability of its store to other regions where regulations permit, with Japan slated for a 2025 launch. The company has set a goal of reaching 100 million mobile downloads of its store by the end of the year, made up of combined game installs across both iOS and Android.

Article Link: Epic Games Store Launches on iPhone in EU, Brings Fortnite Back to iOS

 

[Nugat Trailers]

Do the Macrumors editors know that other games exist beyond Epic and Fortnite?

 

[ashdelacroix]

Apple wanted to take a 30% cut. Many found that greedy. Now they are forced to host third-party app stores. Apple won't regret the billions it has made in the meantime, but it means their platform has become regulated in ways that make future innovations in exclusivity all but impossible.

 

[I7guy]

Let see how well behaved epic is in round 2.

 

[I7guy]

Apple wanted to take a 30% cut. Many found that greedy. Now they are forced to host third-party app stores. Apple won't regret the billions it has made in the meantime, but it means their platform has become regulated in ways that make future innovations in exclusivity all but impossible.

Innovations will happen outside of the the EU.

 

[@Brett]

And if no one’s plays it or buys Epic’s games. Tim Sweeney I am sure will blame Apple. After all no one is going to stop that man monetizing kids.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Innovations will happen outside of the the EU.

They haven't been for a while now. Why would now be any different?

Smartphone "innovation" is all but dead, Apple isn't innovating, Google isn't innovating, Samsung isn't innovating.. Oh AI? wooohoo..there are a dozen apps you can download today that will do the same thing..

And on iOS, no innovation by 3rd parties unless you bow before Apple and kiss the ring.

 

[ashdelacroix]

Innovations will happen outside of the the EU.

I suspect the UK and US are headed for similar regulations. The EU is not a serious state but a global regulator. Others will follow. Investigations are already underway in the UK and US into Apple and others.

 

[Ctrlos]

Innovations will happen outside of the the EU.

The only thing that causes innovation is competition. Apple should be looking to make the App Store more enticing to developers rather than beating them with a stick for leaving.

You only need look at the stagnation in OS development caused by the iOS/Android duopoly to see what I mean. Their last big competitor was Windows Phone. This caused Apple to drop skeuomorphism and Android to finally tidy up what was a very messy OS. They were shaken by a competitor and we all benefited. Every OS 'innovation' from them both in the last decade has just been whatever they could pick from the carcass of WebOS.

 

[TSE]

Epic is a company that markets to the bottom of society.

Congrats on winning I guess, Sweeney. Your company will be irrelevant in 5 years!

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Epic is a company that markets to the bottom of society.

Congrats on winning I guess, Sweeney. Your company will be irrelevant in 5 years!

I'm not a gamer by any definition and have never played anything produced by Epic, and even I know this a dumb take.

 

[dynamojoe]

And if no one’s plays it or buys Epic’s games. Tim Sweeney I am sure will blame Apple. After all no one is going to stop that man monetizing kids.

He wants this to happen worldwide, so I think he'll announce that the EU store is an amazing success, regardless of the actual numbers or market share. He doesn't have public shareholders AFAIK so he doesn't have to release hard data.

I wonder if the EU will force developers to deploy to multiple stores. Right now Epic has a monopoly on Fortnite, so shouldn't they have to give customers a choice where they buy it?

 

[atoqir]

I'm not a gamer by any definition and have never played anything produced by Epic, and even I know this a dumb take.

Yeah. Not alone do they have one of the biggest games out there revenue wise with deals with every major movie studio, pop artist and game studio. They also have Unreal Engine that is used by a lot of game and movie studios raking in more billion a year. They also have an upcoming gigantic project with Disney coming up.

There is a reason they can afford all this and give away free games every week on their store, some of them AAA blockbusters.

They are just as bad as Apple, Spotify and Microsoft though. All big corporations trying to squeeze as money out of us as they can get away with.

 

[atoqir]

Right now Epic has a monopoly on Fortnite, so shouldn't they have to give customers a choice where they buy it?

You have. It is also on Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and you can play it for free through xCloud on Game Pass (without needing a sub) and GeForce Now.

So you have heaps of choices where to 'buy' it (it is free). Everywhere except the App Store because Apple does not want it. That is not an Epic problem.

 

[mystery hill]

I wonder if the EU will force developers to deploy to multiple stores. Right now Epic has a monopoly on Fortnite

Fortnite is available on AltStore PAL.

We’re starting by launching our games on AltStore PAL today for iOS users in the European Union. We also plan to bring our games to Aptoide’s iOS store in the EU and ONE Store on Android. We look forward to bringing our games to other stores around the world.

https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/the-epic-games-store-launches-on-mobile

 

[ApostolisApo]

In a rare twist, it turns out that the EU are neither communists nor chauvinists. They just wanted Fortnite on their iPhones

 

[10anta]

I think I might download it, then never order anything in order to cost Epic money

 

[Abazigal]

You have. It is also on Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and you can play it for free through xCloud on Game Pass (without needing a sub) and GeForce Now.

So you have heaps of choices where to 'buy' it (it is free). Everywhere except the App Store because Apple does not want it. That is not an Epic problem.

I am going to assume that IAPs made in the console versions of Fortnite incur a 30% cut to the parent company. So it’s just Apple that Epic is against paying money to? 🙃

The choice was always there. Epic knowingly and wilfully broke the App Store rules. Was Apple supposed to just close one eye and pretend like nothing was happening?

 

[coffeemilktea]

At last, after years of throwing away money on lawsuits and not seeing a single cent from iOS users, Tim Sweeney might finally start seeing the V-Bucks flowing in once more... or V-Euros, I guess.

 

[ToyoCorollaGR]

And if no one’s plays it or buys Epic’s games. Tim Sweeney I am sure will blame Apple. After all no one is going to stop that man monetizing kids.

Well, we know that won't happen, soooooo

 

[ToyoCorollaGR]

Epic is a company that markets to the bottom of society.

Congrats on winning I guess, Sweeney. Your company will be irrelevant in 5 years!

Except it will but go on....

 

[ToyoCorollaGR]

He wants this to happen worldwide, so I think he'll announce that the EU store is an amazing success, regardless of the actual numbers or market share. He doesn't have public shareholders AFAIK so he doesn't have to release hard data.

I wonder if the EU will force developers to deploy to multiple stores. Right now Epic has a monopoly on Fortnite, so shouldn't they have to give customers a choice where they buy it?

Please explain how they have a monopoly on Fortnite 🙄🙄🙄🙄

 

[Abazigal]

At last, after years of throwing away money on lawsuits and not seeing a single cent from iOS users, Tim Sweeney might finally start seeing the V-Bucks flowing in once more... or V-Euros, I guess.

According the Apple, the EU does not account for a significant portion of App Store revenue, implying that people in the EU tend to spend less on app purchases. So an iOS version of Fortnite that is geo-locked to the EU may not end up making all that much money, what more when users are required to jump through hoops just to be able to download it from a third party App Store.

 

[ToyoCorollaGR]

You have. It is also on Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and you can play it for free through xCloud on Game Pass (without needing a sub) and GeForce Now.

So you have heaps of choices where to 'buy' it (it is free). Everywhere except the App Store because Apple does not want it. That is not an Epic problem.

It's free on PC as well, currently installed on mine, my kid randomly plays it.

 

[ZigmundFreud]

In other news, Epic Game Store charge mobile app developers 30% of their apps purchase price to be sold through their game store, causing the EU policy gurus to enforce Epic to allow games stores within their games store.