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Apple has approved Epic Games’ developer account in Sweden, marking a significant development in the tech company’s ongoing story and a victory in maintaining the trust of European regulators.
Under new antitrust laws under Europe’s Digital Marketing Act (DMA), Apple has decided to grant Epic Games a developer license that will allow the company to develop competing apps on iPhones across Europe. App store. This comes after Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney accused Apple of taking revenge, including blocking Swedish accounts, in response to lawsuits and criticism on social media.
Apple withdrew immediately following a review by European regulators and a review of the DMA’s control. Epic Games praised the decision as a strong sign that the European Commission will decide to tackle consumer technology.
Apple’s App Store has long been criticized for its 30% share of game purchases and 15% share of online subscriptions, as well as its control over app distribution on iPhones. The DMA mandated the inclusion of third-party app stores on iPhones in Europe; This is a move that has been criticized by app developers despite Apple’s plans to charge a nominal fee per download.
European regulators immediately sought help from Apple following Epic Games’ announcement. Sweeney confirmed on social media that Apple had reactivated Epic Games’ developer account following an investigation by the European Commission.
The dispute between Epic Games and Apple dates back to 2020, when Epic tried to bypass Apple’s board of directors with an update to its popular game Fortnite. Apple later removed Fortress Heroes from the App Store, sparking a legal battle in the United States. Although Epic Games did not win all the cases, it reached a settlement under California law.
Epic Games plans to release the iPhone version of “Fortnite” in Europe by reusing developer code and open the Epic Games store. Resolving this conflict is important to the ongoing debate between competition and regulation in the digital economy.