Fortnite, one of the most popular video games globally, has made its return as an iPhone app after a four-year absence, but it is exclusively available to players in the European Union. This development follows new EU legislation mandating that Apple must allow third-party app stores on its devices, a requirement that is not mirrored in other regions. The game’s removal from the App Store in 2020 was a result of a dispute over payment policies between Apple and Epic Games.
To download Fortnite, users in the EU must install an alternative app store on their devices. The newly launched Epic Games Store is one such option, also accessible on Google Android devices for the first time. Epic has acknowledged that this installation process is “lengthy,” attributing the complexity to Apple and Google, which they claim have created intentionally cumbersome installation methods filled with multiple steps and confusing settings. In response, Apple stated that new EU laws necessitated enabling these options for developers in the region and emphasized their commitment to user privacy and security.
The EU’s Digital Markets Act, which came into effect in March, compels Apple to support alternative app stores. In contrast, other regions do not have similar regulations, with users confined to downloading apps exclusively from the official Apple App Store. Epic’s CEO, Tim Sweeney, expressed on X that “Fortnite has been freed on iOS in Europe,” while simultaneously criticizing Apple for still restricting access in other parts of the world, asserting that the company monopolizes the market and charges app developers high fees, up to 30% on purchases. Google applies a comparable commission for apps downloaded from its Google Play store but allows alternative app stores for Android devices, enabling users to download Fortnite directly from Epic Games.
Fortnite, which is free to play, generates revenue through in-game purchases for various items such as skins and weapons. The game was removed from both Apple and Google’s platforms in 2020 after Epic Games ceased paying the commission fees. The future availability of Fortnite on iPhones in the UK remains uncertain.