Fortnite Returns to iPhones in Europe Amid Big Tech Scrutiny

Fortnite, one of the world’s most popular video games, is set to return to iPhones across Europe and Android devices worldwide, four years after being removed from Apple and Google’s app stores. The return marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing antitrust battle between Epic Games and the tech giants, influenced heavily by new European regulations.

According to The Financial Times, Fortnite’s reappearance on these platforms coincides with the launch of Epic Games’ own mobile app store, a development seen as a direct challenge to the dominance of Apple and Google. This move underscores the impact of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which mandates that digital “gatekeepers” like Apple and Google open their platforms to rival app stores and payment systems.

Epic Games’ CEO, Tim Sweeney, has hailed the DMA as a turning point, stating, “the tide is turning,” as both Apple and Google face increasing pressure from regulators and courts globally. The return of Fortnite to iPhones, along with other popular Epic Games titles such as Fall Guys and Rocket League Sideswipe, is set to shake up the mobile gaming landscape, with these games now available not only through the new Epic Games Store but also via alternative app stores like Aptoide and AltStore, which have gained traction in Europe following the DMA’s introduction.

Apple, in response to these regulatory changes, noted that the DMA required the company to enable new capabilities for developers in the EU, emphasizing their efforts to balance ease of use with privacy and security concerns. Google, however, has yet to comment on the situation.

Read more: Epic Games v. Apple: A Case Summary

Despite its removal from major app stores in 2020, Fortnite has maintained its popularity, particularly on consoles. Data from Ampere Analysis reveals that in July, 35 million players logged more than 600 million hours on Xbox and PlayStation, making Fortnite “the biggest game on those consoles by far,” according to Piers Harding-Rolls, an analyst at the research group.

The initial removal of Fortnite and other Epic Games titles from the App Store and Play Store in August 2020 stemmed from Epic’s legal battle with Apple and Google over what it claimed were monopolistic practices. Epic had bypassed the mandatory in-app billing systems on these platforms, sparking a lawsuit and the subsequent ban of its games.

Per The Financial Times, the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which came into effect earlier this year, is designed to curb the market power of digital gatekeepers. The legislation includes provisions to open mobile operating systems to rival app stores and alternative distribution and payment methods. Companies were required to comply with these new rules by March, and failure to do so could result in fines of up to 10 percent of their global revenue.

As the EU continues to scrutinize Apple and Google’s compliance with the DMA, critics, including Spotify, have voiced concerns over Apple’s new fee structure in the EU, which they argue could discourage developers from exploring alternative distribution channels. Epic Games, too, has criticized the process required to install its Epic Games Store on iOS and Android, describing it as “intentionally poor-quality,” with multiple steps and confusing settings designed to deter users.

Source: The Financial Times