A thrilling new contender has emerged in the realm of mobile gaming, and it comes in the form of none other than Epic Games with its very own app store. And guess what? Fortnite is back, baby! But before you start busting out your victory dance, there’s a catch – it’s currently only available in Europe. Sorry, UK iPhone users, you’ll have to hold your horses until next year for the big rollout.
But what’s the big fuss about Epic Games having its own app store, you wonder? Well, for starters, it’s a game-changer (pun intended). It marks one of the first third-party app stores to grace the iPhone, bringing along other fan favorites like Rocket League Sideswipe and Fall Guys.
However, here’s the twist – this launch isn’t just about Epic Games making a bold move. It’s the latest installment in a saga of clashes between Epic and tech giants Apple and Google over app store domination and those pesky developer commission fees. Remember when Fortnite got the boot from both Apple and Google app stores in 2020? Yeah, it’s been quite the rollercoaster ride since then, with legal drama and regulatory showdowns aplenty.
Enter the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the EU. This game-changing law has thrown a wrench into Apple’s plans by forcing it to let European users download iPhone apps from non-Apple stores. Talk about shaking things up! Thanks to the DMA, Epic Games can now spread its wings with its own store and bring Fortnite back to Apple devices in Europe – and brace yourselves, Android users, because the launch is going global.
But hold onto your battle axes, folks, because there’s still a showdown brewing. In a fiery blog post, Epic didn’t hold back, taking another swing at Apple and Google for their “anti-competitive” tactics and making it tough for users to explore alternative app stores. They’re not backing down, though. Epic is determined to fight it out in the courts and work with regulators around the globe to level the playing field.
Tim Sweeney, the head honcho at Epic Games, had this to say: “The tide is turning and the mobile ecosystem is finally opening up to competition. We are grateful to the European Commission for making it possible to launch the Epic Games Store and offer our games to iOS users in the European Union.”
It’s an epic (pun intended, again) showdown of David vs. Goliath, but with a techy twist. And while the fight is far from over, this new development is a step in the right direction for developers and gamers alike. Let the games begin! In a truly epic (I promise, that’s the last one) unveiling, Epic is also joining forces with other third-party app stores in the EU, including AltStore. And of course, the big bosses at Google and Apple are keeping quiet for now. The battle lines have been drawn, and the showdown between Epic Games and the tech giants is far from over. Let’s see what they’ve got up their sleeves next.
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