Fortnite maker Epic Video games has hit a stumbling block in its plans to deliver the corporate’s different app retailer, the Epic Video games Retailer, to the EU. As now permitted by the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Epic Video games introduced earlier this yr it deliberate to deliver each the digital storefront and its flagship sport, Fortnite, again to iOS in Europe. Now, Epic says Apple has rejected its submission twice over issues that its Video games Retailer seemed an excessive amount of just like the App Retailer.
In line with posts on X, Epic Video games says Apple has rejected its submission over particulars just like the place of its “Set up” button for video games, which Apple stated is just too just like its personal “Get” button. It additionally stated that it was rejected for its “in-app buy” label being an excessive amount of like Apple’s label, as properly.
Epic argues that it’s utilizing the identical naming conventions which can be commonplace throughout widespread app shops on different platforms.
The corporate known as the rejection “arbitrary, obstructive, and in violation of the DMA,” and stated it has shared its issues with the European Fee.
The case with Epic represents a high-profile instance of how stringent Apple shall be with the brand new guidelines that let third-party app shops on iOS for the primary time. Extreme rejections might additionally dissuade different builders who had been desirous about testing the waters with their very own distribution channels.
Apple responded to Epic Video games’ put up by noting that it’s attempting to assist the corporate get its Market Iive, and that beneath Part 2.3 (G) of its developer settlement, Epic Video games agreed to not make its Market seem confusingly just like the App Retailer. Apple says that Epic has usually adopted this guideline, apart from the design and duplicate of the obtain button.
Apple additionally famous that Epic Video games’ Fortnite app has already been accepted.
Beneath the DMA’s new guidelines, Apple is required to permit third-party app shops on the iPhone because the tech large was deemed a “gatekeeper” beneath EU regulation. App builders can even swap to a set of recent DMA guidelines that enable them to scale back commissions on in-app purchases on the App Retailer, although the method nonetheless entails charges beneath a sophisticated new construction that has builders paying Apple for using its know-how as an alternative.
Epic has been battling Apple for years for a method of reaching its prospects on the iPhone with out having to pay commissions on in-app purchases. The corporate took the case to the courts within the U.S., the place it finally misplaced on most fronts, having did not show Apple was a monopolist. However Epic’s continued complaints noticed Apple briefly terminating the sport maker’s developer account within the EU, earlier than EU regulators once more stepped in. Since then, Epic Video games has vowed to launch Fortnite on iOS and iPad within the EU and convey its Video games Retailer to the market.
