The new Epic Games Store brings Fortnite back to iPhones

Epic has finally announced its own app store in the European Union. The new platform will undercut Apple with lower fees and host Epic’s mobile games, including Fortnite.

Epic and Apple have long been rivals, starting with the App Store’s high fees. However, new EU technology rules have now allowed the Fortnite maker to open its own app marketplace. For now, the Epic Games Store will only offer Epic’s games, including Fortnite.

The company says it also plans to start adding third-party games starting in December 2024.

Epic will make Fortnite available for download in both a new iPhone version of the Epic Games Store and through AltStore PAL, another third-party app store. The app market also launches today for Android users worldwide.

Apple/Epic

European iPhone owners and global Android users can also download Epic’s Rocket League Sideswipe and a new title, a mobile version of Fall Guys, from the Epic Games Store.

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney welcomed the launch of the Epic Games Store for iOS as a way to fix the “largely broken” mobile gaming industry, Wired reported. “Competition wouldn’t destroy Apple’s App Store,” he said. “It would force Apple to compete with better prices and better features and better promotions and better marketing deals and less advertising.”

Epic says its App Store takes a maximum commission of 12 percent on sales, undercutting Apple’s App Store, where fees can be as high as 30 percent.

Epic is bringing its app store to the EU thanks to new Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations. The law forces tech giants to open up their platforms, giving competitors more access to their user base.

As a result, Apple must now allow alternative app stores on European devices. iPhone users outside the EU cannot use the new Epic Games Store.