Epic Games, the company behind popular titles like Fortnite and Rocket League, has made a significant move in the digital store space by launching its own store for customers in Europe. This development comes after Epic was booted from Apple’s App Store four years ago for violating App Store policies. Thanks to Europe’s Digital Markets Act, Apple is now required to allow access to third-party app stores on its mobile devices, leading to the emergence of multiple alternative iOS app stores in the EU.
Among the alternative iOS app stores in Europe are AltStore PAL, Aptoide, Mobivention, and SetApp Mobile. The latest addition to this list is the Epic Games Store, which offers iOS users in Europe access to popular entertainment titles like Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys. Epic is also making its iOS titles available in other third-party stores like AltStore PAL and plans to expand to Aptoide’s iOS store in the near future.
While the Epic Games Store is available to Android users worldwide, the move to launch a rival iOS store is particularly significant given Apple’s strict control over its ecosystem. The Android platform has long accommodated third-party stores and side-loading, which Apple has traditionally opposed. ONE Store on Android is also set to distribute Epic’s games, further expanding the reach of the Epic Games Store.
The process for installing the Epic Games Store on iOS in the EU is complex, involving multiple steps and settings adjustments. Epic has criticized Apple and Google for creating poor-quality install experiences with confusing steps and scare screens. The company is currently pursuing legal action against both tech giants over these issues.
Fortnite has been unavailable on iOS since 2020 when Apple banned the game due to App Store Guidelines violations. Epic sued Apple in the US, winning one of its ten claims against the tech giant. Despite the legal battles, Epic’s efforts to challenge platform gatekeepers have been successful in sparking competition and regulatory scrutiny.
However, rocking the platform boat has come at a cost for Epic, with the company reportedly losing around $1 billion in revenue and undergoing layoffs affecting 16 percent of its workforce. Despite these challenges, the Epic Games Store offers better financial terms for developers compared to Apple’s App Store, with lower store fees and zero fees on third-party payments.
Epic founder and CEO Tim Sweeney has expressed optimism about the future of competition in the mobile ecosystem. He sees the launch of the Epic Games Store in Europe as a step towards greater choice and competition for developers and consumers. While the fight is far from over, Sweeney believes that progress is being made towards a more open and competitive digital marketplace for all.