EU Pressure Forces Apple to Allow Epic Games Store on iPhones and iPads

• Epic Games will be allowed to have its own app store on IOS in Europe.
• Apple reversed its decision not to allow the Epic Games Store following the passage of the Digital Markets Act in the EU.
• Epic, which makes Fortnite, has been battling Apple and Google over in-app purchases for years.

In a major shift, Apple reversed its decision to block Epic Games from launching its own app store for iPhones and iPads in Europe. This change comes after the European Union (EU) threatened to investigate Apple following the implementation of their new Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The DMA aims to loosen the grip of big tech companies on the digital marketplace. One key feature is allowing users to download apps and make purchases through vendors other than the official app store. This directly challenges Apple's control over the App Store and its in-app purchase system, which Epic Games has been fighting against for years.

The conflict began in 2020 when Epic introduced a way for Fortnite players to buy in-game currency without using Apple's system, which takes a hefty cut of each transaction. In retaliation, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store. Epic also faced a similar situation with Google Play, but a recent court case ruled in their favor, highlighting Google's potential monopoly over their app store.

While Epic lost a similar lawsuit against Apple in the US in 2021, they did manage to secure a small victory. The judge limited Apple's control by allowing app developers to include links to other payment options within their apps. This EU ruling, however, is a much bigger win for Epic and could potentially pave the way for a more competitive app market on iPhones and iPads in Europe.