Epic games Apple has finally reinstated its iOS developer account in the European Union. This means that the developer plans to launch a digital storefront for iOS devices sometime this year. More importantly, it will allow users to download easily Fortnite on iPhones.
The company has announced that it will It returned in January, but it was unclear whether Apple would grant it a developer account. This account makes it much easier for developers to distribute apps and content across Apple’s various platforms.
Fortnite will return to iOS in Europe in 2024 @EpicGames Store for iOS. Stay tuned for details as we determine the regulatory timeline. We will continue to challenge Apple’s violation of the law to the courts and regulators. https://t.co/MHh6EGVinC
— Epic Games Newsroom (@EpicNewsroom) January 25, 2024
It’s all thanks to the EU’s new Digital Markets Act, which officially came into effect on March 7. The law designates large services like Apple’s App Store as “gatekeepers” and orders them to interoperate with competing products to stay in compliance. When it comes to the application in this case, the DMA will appeal to all developers accept payments and distribute apps on iOS outside of the official App Store. Apps sold by a third-party sales platform must still be approved by Apple through the company’s Notarization process to detect and remove potentially harmful content.
There’s been a lot of bad blood between Apple and Epic since the latter company started using its in-app payment option on the iOS version. Fortnite. A 30 percent discount on cosmetic upgrades and power-ups it sells using its own payment processing Fortnite Gamers were no longer in Apple’s pockets. This is enabled On whether Apple’s walled garden approach is anti-competitive. Epic sued Apple and Apple banned Epic from its platform.
Judge recently issued a standing order This gives developers a way to avoid the 30 percent cut of sales that Apple takes through its internal payment system. This apparently did not satisfy either company. Apple wasn’t happy about having to allow third-party payment options on its platform. it was epic It was ruled that Apple did not have a monopoly on mobile games and did not violate antitrust law by prohibiting competing software markets.
Under what possible theory of antitrust regulation is it acceptable for a monopoly to decide which companies are allowed to compete with it and on what terms? Apple makes a mockery of free market competition. https://t.co/BPEdXQ2htt
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) January 26, 2024
Apple is also allowed to arrange payment structures to discourage developers from using a third-party payment option. Most likely, the verdict, as it stands, It won’t cut into Apple’s current 30 percent discount App Store sales in any meaningful way. Both companies applied. California’s Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the district court’s decision. Although the companies brought their complaints to the US Supreme Court, the court refused to hear them. This is where we stand right now.
As this all happened on this side of the pond, the EU passed the aforementioned Digital Markets Act, which forced Apple’s hand to allow third-party storefronts on iOS devices. There is no ongoing legal battle between the two companies in Europe, so EU residents will be able to play Fortnite again. Americans will have to rely on Xbox Cloud Gaming or GeForce Now to run the popular shooter on Apple devices.
Anyway, maybe things are cooling down a bit between the two companies. Note that recently Disney Up to $1.5 billion. is known
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