After years off Apple's App Store, 'Fortnite' will reappear in the EU
Amber NeelyImage Credit: Epic Games
Epic Games has announced that it will bring the much-beloved battle royale game "Fortnite" back to the iPhone and iPad in 2024 — but only in Europe.
On Thursday, Epic Games posted that it plans to launch its own Epic Games store for iOS in Europe later this year. Of course, the company couldn't resist taunting Apple in the post, either.
Currently, there is no concrete date for the launch of the Epic Games Store. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney originally promised a 2023 return.
Fortnite will return to iOS in Europe in 2024, distributed by the upcoming @EpicGames Store for iOS. Stay tuned for details as we figure out the regulatory timeline. We'll continue to argue to the courts and regulators that Apple is breaking the law. https://t.co/MHh6EGVinC
— Epic Games Newsroom (@EpicNewsroom) January 25, 2024
As Epic Games Newsroom notes, the company will need to figure out the regulatory timeline. The company also stated that it would "continue to argue to the courts and regulators that Apple is breaking the law."
Epic's decision to bring Fortnite back to iOS was spurred by Apple's recent announcement that as of iOS 17.4, developers will be allowed to offer alternative app stores in the European Union.
On Thursday, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney fired back at Apple for implementing an "anticompetitive scheme rife with junk fees."
Epic and Apple were locked in a seemingly never-ending legal battle that began in 2020 when Epic first skirted Apple's rules for in-app purchases. The US Supreme Court declined to hear both Epic's and Apple's appeal, so that aspect of the saga has ended.
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13 Comments
why are they even bother come back to apple? we don't even feel the lost when they left, they should stay that way. if they don't want to be on the App Store then don't come back at all. even if apple have option, I still would use App Store. why would I want to expose my sensitive information to another website or company when apple can take care everything for me.
I can’t see it happening. The apps will have to be notarized by Apple and Epic might not even be allowed an Apple Developer account 😂
Apple gets to approve who does an app store. Epic broke there developer agreement. They don’t even have a developer account now
DOA
The “Epic A-Hole” cause the removal of Fortnite in the first place and proved that Epic doesn’t care about their iOS or Apple customers. It was said that Apple accounted for only 7% of Fortnite income and was therefore only a minor loss for the company.
Not sure what Sweeney thinks they're going to "argue". Epic is not part of the regulatory authority. The court system has no role.