Fortnite resurgence: Epic Games store launches on iOS and Android
After the legal battle between Epic, Apple, and Google, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney is ready to seek revenge. Starting this Friday, the Epic Games Store arrives in Europe, although if you live in the US or other countries outside the EU, you will have to wait to play Fortnite on your mobile device. Epic announced that their new store is available for download from their website and has created a guide for iPhone and Android users to install the store. On iOS, a setting must be changed to allow app downloads from the web. When trying to download on Android, a warning about potential risks is displayed, which is ironic considering the amount of low-quality apps on Google Play. Adjusting the phone permissions is also necessary to allow the download from the Epic Games Store. In their statement, Epic criticized Apple and Google for offering “intentionally deficient installation experiences” with confusing settings and warning screens. The company stated that they will continue to fight in court against the “anticompetitive terms” of both companies.
Why did Apple remove Fortnite? Four years ago, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store due to an alleged policy violation. Google also took Fortnite off Google Play. Although users could stream the game, playing it natively was not possible, which also restricted access to other exclusive Epic games like Fall Guys and Rocket League Sideswipe. Epic also announced that their games will be available on AltStore PAL, an independent app marketplace. This week, Epic granted a grant to AltStore developers, waiving the €1.50 annual fee for downloads. AltStore developers explained that these payments covered the cost of Apple’s technology fee. Google has faced intense scrutiny in the US after Epic won their lawsuit against the company. A jury ruled that Google’s app store is an illegal monopoly, forcing the company to allow more third-party platforms on Android. We are now awaiting how a federal judge in California plans to make changes to how Google manages apps on Android. Google continues to argue that a more open ecosystem could allow malicious apps to enter users’ phones. Last year, the European Commission forced Apple to open their app store with the Digital Markets Act. In June, the Commission stated that Apple had already violated the new law with their policies. The EU could fine the tech giant $30 billion. Meanwhile, the US has not yet passed a similar law, although the federal government sued Apple over their 30% fee on the App Store.
