Fortnite’s Return to Apple iPhones: A New Era of Competition in the EU Market

The popular video game Fortnite is set to make a comeback on Apple iPhones in the European Union (EU) following a new EU law designed to increase competition in the digital market. This law, known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), will allow developers to offer their apps through alternative app stores on iOS devices purchased in the EU from March 2024.

Fortnite, developed by Epic Games, was withdrawn from the App Store in 2020 due to disagreements with Apple’s policies. The game has since been available to play via the web, but its absence from the App Store has excluded millions of iPhone users from accessing it. Apple has been accused of creating a monopoly by giving customers and developers no choice but to use its own channels and charging developers up to 30% commission.

The DMA aims to regulate the largest companies that are gatekeepers to services such as search engines and app stores to make the market fairer for established companies and smaller firms. The changes will not apply in the UK at this stage, but the UK’s Digital Markets Bill, currently going through Parliament, is likely to put Apple’s practices under similar regulatory scrutiny.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney expressed his thoughts on the matter in a post on X, formerly Twitter. He referred to the new law as “important” and criticized Apple’s announcement, specifically mentioning “junk fees on downloads.” This could be a reference to the core technology fee, which charges developers of apps that are downloaded by over a million people €0.50 for every user who downloads their app, after the first million downloads.

Apple also announced that it would further open up browser choice, allowing EU users to opt out of using the firm’s Safari web browser from the very first time they open it. However, Apple warned that this move could create additional security risks for customers and increase their risk of being exposed to malware, fraud, and scams hidden within apps from other places.

Apple sells premium-priced products, promising an extra layer of security. The company stated that for apps that use alternative payment processing, it would not be able to issue refunds and would have less ability to support customers encountering issues, scams, or fraud. Android apps can already come from a wider variety of stores, but as a result, malware is far more common on Android devices than Apple ones.

The purpose of both the new EU rules and UK proposals is to maintain open and competitive markets where lots of companies can successfully operate alongside each other. The return of Fortnite to Apple iPhones in the EU marks a significant step towards achieving this goal.

Fortnite’s absence from the App Store has been a topic of controversy for some time. The game’s popularity and the exclusion of millions of iPhone users from accessing it have raised concerns about Apple’s market dominance and its impact on competition. The DMA’s implementation will allow developers to offer their apps through alternative app stores, giving consumers more choices and promoting a healthier market.

The EU’s Digital Markets Act is a crucial step towards creating a more competitive digital market. The return of Fortnite to Apple iPhones in the EU is just the beginning of this new era. As more companies are allowed to offer their apps through alternative app stores, consumers will benefit from increased choice, better prices, and improved innovation.

In conclusion, the EU’s Digital Markets Act marks a significant shift in the digital market, allowing developers to offer their apps through alternative app stores on iOS devices purchased in the EU. The return of Fortnite to Apple iPhones is a testament to this new era of competition. As more companies follow suit, consumers will benefit from increased choice, better prices, and improved innovation. The DMA’s implementation is a crucial step towards maintaining open and competitive markets where lots of companies can successfully operate alongside each other.