Fortnite-Maker Epic Games’ Developer Account To Be Back On Apple App Store In EU
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After weeks, the ongoing war between Apple and Fortnite maker Epic Games seems to come to a halt as the former has finally decided to reinstate the latter’s developer account in Sweden. This move, in compliance with the European Union’s new antitrust regulation, the Digital Markets Act (DMA), empowers the game developer to introduce a competing app store for iPhones in Europe. Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, utilised the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to announce that Apple had granted permission for the app store’s launch following an inquiry by the European Commission.
An Apple spokesperson has verified the reinstatement of Epic Games’ account, highlighting that this decision came after the Fortnite creator agreed to adhere to Apple’s platform policies. The spokesperson conveyed this information in a statement to CNBC and said, “Following conversations with Epic, they have committed to follow the rules, including our DMA policies. As a result, Epic Sweden AB has been permitted to re-sign the developer agreement and accepted into the Apple Developer Program.”
Epic Games’ Take On Apple’s Decision
Epic Games has affirmed its intention to utilise the reinstated account to publish Fortnite for iPhones in Europe, along with launching its independent Epic Games store. The game developer emphasised that this development serves as a robust indication to developers that the European Commission is poised to promptly enforce the Digital Markets Act, holding gatekeepers accountable.
The DMA went through its first major challenge with Apple banning Epic Games Sweden from competing with the App Store, and the DMA just had its first major victory. Following a swift inquiry by the European Commission, Apple notified the Commission and Epic that it would relent…
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) March 8, 2024
Earlier in the week, Apple took the step of blocking Epic Games’ developer account in Sweden. Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, asserted that Apple’s action was a retaliatory measure in response to the gaming studio’s legal actions and criticism on social media. Subsequent to Epic’s disclosure, European regulators promptly announced their intent to seek explanations from Apple regarding the incident. Additionally, the EU regulators imposed a $2 billion fine on Apple for restricting Spotify and other music streaming platforms from informing users about payment options beyond its App Store.
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