Apple Just Banned Epic Games From Opening an App Store in the EU
Epic Games is unhappy with Apple. The iPhone maker has reportedly shut down a developer account that Epic Games planned to use to create an “Epic Games Store” on iOS devices in Europe, less than three weeks after Epic Games first secured the account.
The problem stems from changes Apple was forced to make to iOS following a new EU regulation that ordered the company to open up its platform to third-party app stores. This allows companies like Epic Games to create their own iOS app stores, as long as they adhere to Apple’s guidelines. Epic has used the opportunity to bring Fortnite back to iOS, at least for EU players. Even with this setback, CEO Tim Sweeney still believes Epic will launch the game on iOS through another third-party app store.
Meanwhile, Epic Games claims the move violates the new Digital Markets Act (DMA) and will discourage other developers from setting up third-party app stores in the EU. And they promised to fight back. Again .
Timeline of Epic Developer Account Issues
The company had no problem sharing correspondence with Apple in a blog post announcing the account closure. In it, we see Epic Games’ Steven Ellison reach out to Apple on February 16 asking for more information about the developer program, as well as a consultation with Apple. Five days later, on February 21, they shared their disappointment over Apple’s decision not to give them time for consultation.
On February 23, we see an email to Epic Games from Apple employee Phil Schiller, who expresses cynicism about Epic Games’ motives in the developer program. Schiller cites Epic Games previously calling Apple’s plan to comply with the Digital Markets Act “hot garbage,” a “horror show” and “an insidious new example of malicious compliance” and claiming that Epic Games has violated Apple’s rules in the past, while also complaining that ” garbage fees” and “Apple taxes”.
However, Schiller suggests that Epic Games provide written proof that their interest in the developer program was in good faith. A few hours later, Tim Sweeney of Epic Games assures Schiller that Epic is acting in good faith and that Epic can provide additional guarantees if Apple so desires.
Eight days later, on March 2, Apple’s lawyers shared the news that the company did not believe Epic Games’ claims of good faith and was subsequently terminating the developer’s account. The letter specifically cites Sweeney’s post on X as an example of Epic’s “public attacks on Apple’s policies, compliance plan, and business model.”
Apple and Epic are not friends
This latest incident is just the latest in a string of controversies between the two companies that began in 2020 , when both Apple and Google removed Fortnite from their app stores in retaliation for Epic Games’ decision to circumvent both companies’ in-app purchase policies. It was Apple that earned Epic’s undying hatred, as Google’s open market platform allowed Epic to run its own store from which users could download Fortnite . Since Apple only allows apps to be sold on its App Store, this means there will no longer be Fortnite for iPhone.
Epic previously sued Apple over this issue and lost on almost all counts. Almost: The court agreed with Epic’s argument that Apple broke the law by preventing developers from allowing users to pay them directly, and ruled that the company must give developers the ability to tell users about alternative payment options.
Where do we go from here?
Chances are the ball is back in EU court (no pun intended). This is the first major test of Apple’s compliance with the DMA: will the EU Commission find that the company has the right to block developers based on this level of evidence, or will they decide that Apple needs more reasons to kick a developer off its platform?