Epic Games will finally be able to sell directly to consumers on mobile devices.
After years of fighting to bring its games directly to smartphone users, “Fortnite” developer Epic Games on Friday launched its own app store that lets users bypass stores run by Apple and Google.
The Epic Games Store is available to Android smartphone users worldwide, and iPhone and iPad users in Europe.
The store's opening comes after Epic waged a legal battle to lobby regulators to ease restrictions from Apple and Google on the sale of apps for phones that run their operating systems.
“We're thrilled that Europe's new DMA laws mean we're on the brink of releasing our games on iOS and Android,” Epic CEO Tim Sweeney told reporters at the company's offices in Sweden.
A new EU law known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA) has forced Apple to open up to app developers in Europe, but the company has not taken similar steps elsewhere.
“The DMA requires us to enable new features for EU developers, and we've worked to make it as easy as possible for users while protecting their privacy and security,” Apple said in a statement on Friday.
Thierry Breton, the EU's Internal Market Commissioner, posted to X, “Yes, gamers, Europe means more #freedom and choice!”
Fortnite is also making a comeback on iPhone and iPad after being banned in 2020 for attempting to circumvent Apple's payment system.
Epic filed a lawsuit in 2020 aimed at breaking Apple's hold on the App Store, arguing that the iPhone maker had a monopoly on its digital services store.
But the company lost a federal court challenge to Apple's ability to charge up to 30% commission on all financial transactions on its app store. The US Supreme Court declined to hear the case in January, effectively ending the legal battle.
Apple justifies the fee by saying it helps it keep out risky apps and ensure the security of its operating system.
'friction'
Epic was the first major video game publisher to launch its own app store for Android and Apple devices.
To attract app developers to its store, Epic offers them more favorable revenue-sharing terms than Apple and Google.
But Epic argued that Apple isn't making it easy by making the app store installation process long and opaque, creating disadvantages for developers to cooperate.
When Apple announced last week that it would comply with new EU regulations, it said it would introduce new pricing structures for developers that take customers outside of their apps to provide offers and content.
Epic has set a goal of 100 million app store installs on Android and iOS devices by the end of the year.
“The only thing standing in our way is the friction that Apple and Google are putting in our way, and it's significant,” said Steve Allison, head of the Epic Games Store.
In addition to Fortnite, the store also has Rocket League Sideswipe available, as well as Fall Guys, which is coming to mobile for the first time.
“This is just the beginning of a long journey to get our games back on every platform around the world. The fight isn't over until Fortnite is back on iOS everywhere, free from Apple's tax,” Sweeney said.
© 2024 AFP
Source: Epic launches its own app store, Fortnite returns for iPhones in Europe (August 16, 2024) Retrieved August 16, 2024 from https://techxplore.com/news/2024-08-epic-app-fortnite-iphones-europe.html
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