Epic Games has made a triumphant return to the European market with the relaunch of „Fortnite“ on Apple devices and globally on Android platforms. This move comes after a series of legal battles between Epic Games and Apple, with the video game company successfully rallying support around the Digital Markets Act from EU regulators to resume operations of its digital Epic Games Store on iOS in the European Union.
The Epic Games Store will feature a range of offerings including „Fortnite,“ which launched its „Battle Royale Chapter 5, Season 4: Absolute Doom“ on Friday, as well as „Rocket League Sideswipe“ and the new title „Fall Guys“ for mobile on both iOS and Android. Additionally, third-party stories that offer side-loading of apps, such as AltStore, will also be available on the platform.
Epic has provided detailed instructions on how to download games via the Epic Games Store on both iOS and Android through blog posts published alongside the announcement. However, the process of installing the store on both platforms is described as lengthy due to Apple and Google’s intentionally poor-quality install experiences, which include multiple steps, confusing device settings, and scare screens.
Apple has responded to the relaunch of the Epic Games Store in Europe, stating that the Digital Markets Act required them to enable new capabilities for developers in the EU while also prioritizing user privacy and security. The process for installing apps through alternative distributors in the EU involves five steps for installing an alternative app marketplace and five steps for installing apps from a developer’s website.
Epic Games announced plans for the Epic Games Store to relaunch in Europe on iOS and worldwide on Android, as well as the decision to pull from Samsung’s app store, following Apple’s approval of the Games Store in June amid pushback from EU competition regulators. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney expressed gratitude to the European Commission for making it possible to launch the Epic Games Store in the EU, emphasizing the importance of competition and choice for developers and consumers.
In a press conference, Sweeney further elaborated on his concerns about Apple and Google’s „anticompetitive“ practices and how they impact the digital and gaming consumer experience. He highlighted the lack of competition in the mobile ecosystem and the challenges consumers face in finding the content they are looking for due to the dominance of Apple and Google in the market.
Overall, the relaunch of the Epic Games Store in Europe and globally on Android is a significant step forward for Epic Games and the gaming industry as a whole. The ongoing legal battles and regulatory challenges have shed light on the need for greater competition and choice in the digital marketplace, ultimately benefiting developers and consumers alike.