Apple Reverses Ban on Epic Games in EU Following Digital Competition Rules
Apple has reversed its decision to ban Epic Games, the creator of “Fortnite,” from launching its own app store on iOS in Europe. This abrupt reversal comes just a day after European Union officials announced an investigation into the matter, marking the first significant test of Europe’s new digital competition rules that came into effect recently.
Epic Games announced in a blog post that Apple has committed to reinstating its developer account, allowing “Fortnite” to return to iPhones in Europe. The game had been unavailable on iOS since 2020 due to a dispute over Apple’s developer terms.
According to Epic, Apple reached this decision after discussions and commitments to follow Apple’s new EU-focused policies. Apple confirmed that Epic Sweden AB has been permitted to re-sign the developer agreement and accepted into the Apple Developer Program.
The European Commission had requested information from Apple regarding the allegations, with EU Commissioner Thierry Breton emphasizing the importance of holding gatekeepers like Apple accountable. The new EU Digital Markets Act requires app stores to allow downloads from third-party sources, prompting Apple to introduce a system allowing developers to create self-contained app marketplaces.
Epic’s complaint to the European Commission accused Apple of revoking its developer account due to past criticism and deliberate violations of Apple’s terms to highlight anticompetitive behavior. Emails published by Epic suggested that Apple expected Epic to breach its terms again, despite assurances from Epic CEO Tim Sweeney.
While Apple initially justified its actions based on US court rulings, it appears to have relented under pressure from EU officials. This reversal opens the door for “Fortnite” to once again be available on iOS devices in Europe, signaling the potential impact of Europe’s new digital competition rules.
