After many refusals and disputes, Apple has finally authorized the launch of the Epic Games Store, the Fortnite maker’s third-party app marketplace, in the European Union. This significant development comes as a consequence of the EU’s recent regulation, the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which explicitly allows such initiatives.
The conflict and the resolution
Epic Games accused Apple of deliberately delaying the notarization of its app marketplace in Europe. Apple initially rejected the submission of the Epic Games Store due to concerns that the game store looked too similar to Apple’s App Store. The placement of the “Install” button and the “In-app purchases” label, which Apple considered too similar to its own, were the issues.
The game-changing move by Epic Games
Epic Games did not give up and took the matter to the European Commission to express its concerns, stating that the rejections were arbitrary, obstructive, and violated the DMA. Suddenly, Apple granted approval for Epic’s third-party marketplace app on the condition that Epic implement the necessary fixes in a later update.
The future is now
The future of the app marketplace is about to become much more diverse and competitive with the imminent launch of the Epic Games Store in the EU. The company has already stated that its store will feature its own content (including Fortnite) as well as content from external partners. This is a pivotal moment for the app industry and may shape how relationships between app developers and tech giants evolve over the coming years.
The approval of the Epic Games Store is an important step toward a more open and fair app marketplace. With the launch of the DMA, the EU is leading a new era of innovation and choice for developers and consumers. Through its determination to challenge the status quo, Epic Games has emerged as a driving force behind this transformation.
