Apple said Friday it has approved Epic Games’ game marketplace app on iPhones and iPads in Europe, after the “Fortnite” creator escalated its dispute with the tech giant, accusing it of obstructing its efforts to bring a game store to the devices.
Apple said the latest dispute concerned the Epic Sweden AB Marketplace and had nothing to do with the video game maker’s Fortnite app, which has already been given the green light.
App developers and antitrust regulators have criticized Apple’s tight control over the iOS app ecosystem.
Prior to Apple’s announcement, Epic had said the iPhone maker had twice rejected the video game publisher’s submissions to launch the Epic Games Store because the design of some of the buttons and labels was similar to those used by its App Store.
“We’re using the same ‘Install’ and ‘In-App Purchases’ naming conventions used in popular app stores across multiple platforms, and we’re following standard conventions for iOS app buttons,” Epic said in a series of posts about X.
“Apple’s rejection is arbitrary, obstructive and in violation of the DMA (Digital Markets Act), and we have raised our concerns with the European Commission,” he said.
The European Commission, which last month opened an investigation into Apple’s checks and evaluations to validate apps and alternative app stores for download, declined to comment.
Epic and Apple have been engaged in a legal battle since 2020, when the gaming company alleged that Apple’s practice of charging up to 30% commissions on in-app payments on its iPhone (iOS) devices violated U.S. antitrust rules.
Earlier this year, Apple proposed changes to its App Store policies to comply with certain DMA guidelines that went into effect in March.
It allowed alternative app stores on iPhones and the ability to opt out of in-app payment, but it imposed a “core technology fee” that many developers considered abusive.