Epic Games’ plans to bring the Epic Games Store and Fortnite to iOS devices in Europe have been put on hold after Apple terminated its developer account.
The company had announced in mid-February that it had obtained an Apple developer account to launch the Epic Games Store and Fortnite in Europe later this year. This opportunity was made possible by the new EU regulation, the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to prevent dominant players like Apple from stifling competition in the market.
However, Epic Games revealed in a blog post on Wednesday that Apple had terminated its developer account, citing previous issues and criticism of the iPhone maker’s policies. This move comes after an ongoing antitrust legal battle between the two companies since August 2020, when Epic attempted to bypass Apple’s 30% platform fees with a direct payment option in Fortnite, resulting in the game’s removal from the App Store.
Epic Games accused Apple of violating the DMA by not allowing third-party app stores like the Epic Games Store on iOS devices. The company stated that Apple’s actions hindered competition and discouraged developers from utilizing alternative app stores.
Apple defended its decision, stating that Epic’s breach of contractual obligations gave them the right to terminate the developer account. The tech giant emphasized that they had the authority to take action against entities under Epic Games’ control in response to their behavior.
The ongoing dispute between Epic Games and Apple highlights the power struggles in the app marketplace and the need for fair competition on iOS devices. Epic Games expressed its commitment to continuing the fight for true competition and choice in Europe and beyond.