In a significant turn of events, Apple has approved Epic Games’ developer account in Sweden, marking a crucial development in the ongoing dispute between the tech giants. This approval paves the way for Epic Games to offer a competing app store on iPhones in Europe under the new antitrust regulation, the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The decision comes after Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney accused Apple of retaliating against the company by blocking its Sweden account earlier this week. Sweeney cited an email from Apple App Store chief Phil Schiller, alleging that Apple’s actions were in response to lawsuits and social media criticism from Epic Games.
The episode serves as one of the first challenges to the European DMA from a technology giant it regulates. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of the law’s fines and penalties in curbing the practices targeted by the legislation. However, Apple’s swift reversal suggests that European regulators will be able to enforce the law, sending a strong signal to developers that the European Commission is committed to holding gatekeepers accountable.
Under the DMA, Apple is now compelled to allow third-party app stores on iPhones in Europe. However, Apple retains the authority to charge a nominal fee for each download, a pricing strategy that has drawn criticism from app developers.
European regulators wasted no time in responding to Epic’s announcement, stating that they would press Apple for answers about the incident. Following an inquiry by the European Commission, Apple allowed Epic Games to relaunch its store, resolving the immediate dispute.
The conflict between Epic Games and Apple dates back to 2020 when Epic Games updated its popular game Fortnite to bypass Apple’s 30% commission on App Store sales. In response, Apple removed Fortnite from its stores, prompting Epic Games to sue Apple in the U.S., seeking to compel Apple to open up its platform.
With this latest development, Epic Games plans to use its approved developer account to publish Fortnite for iPhones in Europe, along with its own Epic Games store. The resolution of this dispute marks a significant milestone in the ongoing battle between tech giants over app store policies and antitrust regulations.