Epic Games revealed today that Apple has reinstated its developer account after it was blocked a few years ago. This followed the studio’s choice to offer its own payment method Fortnite On iOS, that is restricted by App Store rules.
Coming soon to Fortnite and the Epic Games Store on iOS… in Europe
Now that Epic Games has regained its developer account with Apple, it will be able to offer once again Fortnite on the iPhone. But don’t expect to see a famous game on the App Store. In fact, it will not be available there, but on the Epic Games Store.
With the DMA in Europe, Apple is obligated to authorize competition in the distribution of iOS apps. This includes allowing third-party app stores. Despite numerous restrictions and costs (€0.50 per user and per installation), the studio will use this method, even though it criticized it a few weeks ago.
On its site, Epic Games suggests:
We have received our developer account from Apple and will soon begin developing the Epic Games Store on iOS thanks to the new Digital Markets Act (DMA). We plan to launch in 2024. Epic Games Sweden AB will operate the mobile Epic Games Store and Fortnite in Europe, with the store team leading development.
Epic Games has 3 studios and over 60 employees in Sweden.
Since DMA is specific to the European Union, Fortnite And the Epic Games Store on iPhone will not be available internationally.
Third-party app stores and other DMA-related additions will arrive with iOS 17.4, which is expected to be released in early March. Be warned, though: Epic Games hasn’t specified when its store and its games will be available, other than that it’ll be sometime in 2024.
