On August 16th Epic games announced that their new app for Apple IOS has launched in the European Union. It has also launched worldwide on Android. The new Epic App is launching with Fortnite, Fall Guys, and Rocket League. Their statement from X can be found below.

For those unfamiliar, The Digital Markets Act aims to level the playing field when it comes to companies blocking 3rd party apps and stores on their devices. It was voted on on July the 22nd, 2022. The Act entered into force on November the 1st and became applicable on May the 2nd, 2023. It was passed at least in part due to all the lawsuits Apple has been involved with recently, most notably the one with Epic games having to do with them putting Fortnite on the Apple IOS store and basically cutting Apple out of their 30% through links that took players out of app to make purchases. Apple would ultimately win but not without getting a lot of Anti-Trust related attention. The Act game company’s until March 6th, 2024, to comply with the new rules the Act puts forth, which is why you’re seeing changes now.

For now, these rules are isolated to the Eurpoean Union and them alone. According to Epics statement on their website, Apple is still blocking the app else where however, that could change. It’s not uncommon for other first world countries to follow these sorts of rules with stuff like Right To Repair, so if we see this sort of stuff come to other countries, I wouldn’t be surprised. We’ll need to wait and see what happens.

What are your thoughts? Comment below.