Epic Games has re-released “Fortnite” on Apple devices in Europe and on the Android platform globally after a lengthy legal battle between the two companies.
The video game company has secured support from EU regulators over its Digital Markets Act, allowing it to resume operations of its digital Epic Games Store on iOS within the European Union, but the iPhone maker continues to block access for users outside the EU.
The store will feature Epic products like “Fortnite” (which launches “Battle Royale Chapter 5, Season 4: Absolute Doom” on Friday), “Rocket League: Sideswipe” and the upcoming iOS and Android mobile game “Fall Guys,” as well as third-party offerings like AltStore that offer app sideloading.
In a blog post published alongside Friday's announcement, Epic provided detailed instructions on how to download the game from the Epic Games Store on both iOS and Android.
According to Epic, “Today, the process of installing the Epic Games Store on iOS and Android is slow because Apple and Google intentionally introduced a poor installation experience, with multiple steps, confusing device setup, and scary screens. We continue to fight in court to remove the anti-competitive terms that Apple and Google impose on developers and consumers, and we're working with regulators around the world so we can build a better store for everyone.”
On July 25, Epic announced plans to relaunch the Epic Games Store on iOS in Europe and on Android worldwide, as well as its decision to withdraw from Samsung's app store, following Apple's approval of the Games Store in June amid continuing backlash from EU competition regulators. However, Epic did not provide a timeline for the Games Store's reopening at the time.
“The tide is turning and the mobile ecosystem is finally opening up to competition,” Epic Games CEO and founder Tim Sweeney said in a statement on Friday. “We're grateful to the European Commission for launching the Epic Games Store and making our games available to iOS users in the European Union. Now, iOS users in Europe and all Android users can access our store and games as they always have on open platforms like PC and Mac. The fight is not over yet, but this is tangible progress for developers and consumers who can start to benefit from competition and choice.”
During the press conference, Sweeney detailed his concerns about Apple and Google's “anti-competitive” approach and how it is negatively impacting the digital and gaming consumer experience, with no clear end in sight to the Apple block in the US.
“They are so thorough in hiding the disadvantages from consumers that many cannot even imagine a better world that might exist if there was real competition,” Sweeney said. “Another impact of Apple's lack of competition is that there are no other stores that set a better example for how to do things, and they discipline Apple for its own behavior. For example, when 'Fortnite' was on the App Store, if you searched for 'Fortnite,' the first result was always another game. That's because Apple sold the top results for 'Fortnite' to a competitor. And users who searched for 'Fortnite' had to scroll to find the actual game. Now Google puts several ads before every organic search result, making it harder and harder to find what you're actually looking for. This is the store getting worse, and users have no other choice. To go to another store, you have to throw away your device, as well as your computer, tablet, and TV, buy everything new, and buy the catalog of music and movies that you bought from Apple again. Because you're already locked in.”
