Europe’s Apple devices will soon be able to access the Epic Games Store, but as usual, not before a little spat broke out between Apple and Epic.
With this decision, the two businesses’ protracted conflict over ownership of the app market comes to an end.
Earlier this year, Epic announced that it would be returning the digital marketplace and its main game, Fortnite, to iOS in Europe.
But, Epic Games said on X (previously Twitter) on Friday that Apple had twice rejected their request because of worries that their Games Store bore too much resemblance to Apple’s App Store.
Following that, Epic declared it would refer the issue to European regulators for assessment.
Later on Friday afternoon, Apple announced that the Epic Sweden AB Marketplace app had been approved, but the developer would still need to make the necessary adjustments.
According to Apple, Epic Games had committed to refraining from creating a confusing resemblance between its Games Store and the App Store, as per the terms of Section 2.3 (G) of the developer agreement.
Apple observed that, except for the download button’s appearance and wording, Epic had largely adhered to this rule.
The Fortnite maker, in a series of Tweets, confirmed that Apple has indeed approved the app on its store.
“Update: Apple has informed us that our previously rejected Epic Games Store notarization submission has now been accepted,” the post reads in part.
The report suggests that Apple’s approval of the Epic Games Store is a result of recent policy adjustments made to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
After going into effect in March 2024, the DMA requires big app store platforms to let alternate app shops and give developers more processing options for payments.
We earlier reported that as part of attempts to comply with historic European Union tech legislation intended to curtail Big Tech’s power, Alphabet’s Google has detailed changes to search results and new tools for app developers to promote their wares on rival app stores and third-party apps.
