Four years after leaving iOS, Fortnite is making a comeback, but only European players are pulling out this time.
The endless feud between Epic Games and Apple over the company’s App Store fees took a surprising turn recently on Thursday when the iPhone maker announced changes coming to iOS in the European Union. In an effort to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a set of pro-competition rules implemented to regulate six of the largest technology companies, Apple will begin allowing the “sideloading” of apps — installing them from sources outside the limited scope of the App Store. garden.
The significant changes will allow developers to distribute iOS apps through alternative channels or even create their own app marketplaces. Apple has long resisted allowing iOS developers to offer their apps through sideloading, as Google Play allows, arguing that the practice would weaken the platform’s security and privacy standards.
In light of the changes, Epic plans to bring Fortnite, the successful battle royale game — which is now evolving into its own kind of digital marketplace — back to iOS this year. The plan to introduce Fortnite for iOS aligns with Epic’s news that it will launch a version of the Epic Games Store on the platform in the European Union.
Apple’s EU App Store overhaul is a major departure from the status quo, but Epic Games isn’t happy with the details of how the iPhone maker will implement its DMA compliance. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney blasted Apple’s plans on Thursday, slamming the company’s announced plans as “hot garbage” plagued by unwanted fees.
Even as it continues to fight Apple’s policies, Epic is preparing to relaunch on iOS. In addition to developing Fortnite and the Unreal Engine, Epic also operates the Epic Game Store, a digital storefront for PC games that are also available on Mac. Like Apple, Epic generates revenue as the digital owner through the Epic Game Store, though its 13 percent revenue share (developers keep 88%) and approach to in-app purchases are far less aggressive than Apple’s own policies.
It’s clear that Epic sees a lucrative future in continuing to build its business as a software marketplace. This vision is increasingly being emphasized in Fortnite, which has evolved from being a few third-person shooter game modes to a full Roblox-like portal to digital gaming. Fortnite now offers thousands of user-created games alongside the classic Battle Royale, including a new trio of exhilarating new titles developed by Epic itself that offer survival, racing, and rhythm game alternatives to the Fortnite Battle Royale mode.