Fortnite is Returning to iOS, But Only in Europe

[Iuliana]

Apple device users in Europe can play the popular battle royale after the new Digital Markets Act law passed by the European Union.

Epic Games has announced that Fortnite is returning to iOS, at least in some European countries. The Digital Markets Act, passed in December 2022 by the European Union, will allow developers to publish their own app stores on Apple’s App Store. The bill is expected to go into effect in March 2024, which will allow Epic Games to publish the Epic Games Store on the App Store.

In 2020, Epic Games was taken off from Apple’s App Store for setting up a direct-pay system to avoid paying Apple’s cut of each in-game purchase. Epic Games introduced direct payments within Fortnite for in-game items, such as vBucks and other packs, to bypass Apple’s 30% cut on every microtransaction on iOS.

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Fortnite vBucks Purchasing on Apple Devices

After Epic introduced the direct payment method within Fortnite, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store and banned Epic Games’ developer account after establishing that this was a violation. The two companies have had an impasse for over three years, and Epic Games eventually filed a lawsuit against Apple.

Fortnite Coming Back to Apple Devices

Fortnite’s official account posted on the social media platform X about Fortnite’s return on iOS later this year through the Epic Games Store. The post reads,

Remember Fortnite on iOS? How bout we bring that back. Later this year Fortnite will return in Europe on iOS through the @EpicGames Store.

@FortniteGame on X

Remember Fortnite on iOS?

How bout we bring that back.

Later this year Fortnite will return in Europe on iOS through the @EpicGames Store.
(shoutout DMA – an important new law in the EU making this possible). @Apple, the world is watching. pic.twitter.com/VdHWTe8i1c

— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) January 25, 2024

However, with the new Digital Markets Act law, Apple now has to allow developers to create and offer apps without using the App Store. However, Apple changed its terms and conditions to ensure they still earn money on apps not featured on the App Store.

Apple’s new terms and conditions demand that apps downloaded more than a million times yearly must pay €0.50 for every download over a million. As a result, developers on the App Store will owe Apple $542,00 or €500,000 for every million downloads after the first million.

Fortnite on iOS | Credit: Epic Games

Earlier in January 2024, Apple announced that it would let developers take consumers to a third-party website to make payments instead of the App Store. However, in doing so, Apple will charge a 27% commission on any payments made through these websites. If Epic Games agrees to these terms, they will probably make Fortnite available on iOS devices through the Epic Games Store.

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