Fortnite to Return to iOS Devices in Europe Amidst Apple Regulation Controversy

Epic Games has announced that it will be bringing Fortnite back to iOS devices later this year thanks in part to a change in EU law. In a tweet posted on the official Epic Games Newsroom account, the publisher confirmed that the popular battle royale game will return to iOS in Europe in 2024, distributed through the upcoming Epic Games Store for iOS. This move comes as a result of the Digital Markets Act, a new EU law set to take effect in March. The law states that Apple must allow developers to create and offer new apps without using the App Store. However, Apple has introduced new terms to ensure it continues to earn money from non-App Store apps. For apps downloaded more than a million times a year, developers will now owe Apple €0.50 for every download over a million, which could result in significant fees for popular apps like Fortnite. Additionally, Apple will charge a 27% commission on any proceeds made through payment links to third-party websites. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney criticized Apple’s actions, claiming that they are undermining Europe’s new law and violating the DMA’s goal of increasing competition and fairness in the digital market. As Epic Games prepares to bring Fortnite back to iOS devices in the EU, there are still uncertainties regarding the UK’s inclusion and whether Epic will pay Apple the new fees.