Epic Games plans return to iOS in Europe thanks to DMA

Epic Games revealed today that it's planning to return to Apple's digital storefront this year, at least in Europe. After having parted ways with Apple in 2020 under less-than-amicable circumstances, Epic now reports that it has received an Apple Developer Account thanks to the EU's Digital Markets Act. It announced earlier this year that it planned to return to the App Store at some point. Epic Games Sweden AB helms the iOS efforts in Europe.

In 2020, when Epic attempted to introduce in-app purchases to Fortnite that circumvented the normal in-app purchasing apparatus, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store and banned the company's developer account. Until now, it still had not reinstated the account even after the two company's worked out their differences in front of a judge.

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said in a post on X: “I'll be the first to acknowledge a good faith move by Apple amidst our cataclysmic antitrust battle, in granting Epic Games Sweden AB a developer account for operating Epic Games Store and Fortnite in Europe under the Digital Markets Act.”

Under the DMA, Apple must open iOS to third-party stores, including the Epic Games Store. Sweeney previously criticized Apple for using “malicious compliance” to circumvent the DMA's rules by way of fees and taxes on downloads and payments the company doesn't process. Sweeney (and others) believe this is to make it more difficult for developers to use third-party storefronts rather than Apple's own.