Malcolm Owen
The Epic Games Store has finally launched in the European Union, providing gamers with ways to access games on their iPhone without going through the App Store.
After the lengthy and expensive legal battle over payments and rival app storefronts, as well as troubles with notarization, Epic Games has succeeded in bringing a digital storefront to the App Store. The Epic Games Store, a rival to the App Store, went live on Friday.
The Epic Games Store is launching with a selection of games, including Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys.
More games will be on the way, as Epic says it is working to allow all developers to launch games and apps through the storefront in the future. Likewise, Epic is also bringing its games to other independent mobile storefronts, such as AltStore PAL.
Only EU users will be able to install the Epic Games Store and its content, which Epic references in its announcement. Acknowledging the Digital Markets Act enabled its availability in Europe, Epic continues to state that Apple is "still blocking all other iOS users outside of Europe from accessing Fortnite and Epic Games Store for iOS."
"The tide is turning and the mobile ecosystem is finally opening up to competition," said Epic Games CEO and founder Tim Sweeney. "We are grateful to the European Commission for making it possible to launch the Epic Games Store and offer our games to iOS users in the European Union."
While "the fight is far from over," Sweeney adds that the store's launch is "tangible progress for developers and consumers who can benefit from competition and choice."
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14 Comments
What I wouldn't give to have an EU iPhone where I could "buy" every free game Epic offers, install them, then delete them.
I do wonder how the performance of fortnite on the 15 pro phones compare to something such as a switch (which you are lucky if the wall in front of you loads properly)
Installed. You can't find other app stores from App Store, searching for Epic gives you Steam and Xbox apps, and you have to go to a site and then manually open Settings. It would feel more safe to download from App Store (and with Apple charging developers perhaps it should be like that).
But here we are. Developers can connect directly to users and get taxed less. Users get more options for great content across platforms. It is a new era.