The Epic Games Store – and Fortnite – will launch across Europe on iOS this year and be run out of Epic’s Swedish office.
Epic (re)confirmed that it plans to launch both the Epic Games Store and flagship game Fortnite across Europe this year in a blog post on Friday.
“We’ve received our Apple Developer Account and will start developing the Epic Games Store on iOS soon thanks to the new Digital Markets Act,” said Epic. “We plan to launch in 2024.”
“Epic Games Sweden AB will operate the mobile Epic Games Store and Fortnite in Europe, with the Store team leading development. Epic Games Sweden has 3 studios and 60+ employees.”
It’s the second time the Fortnite maker has said it’ll be returning to iOS since Apple revealed its response to the incoming Digital Markets Act, which comes into effect across Europe next month.
Under the new laws digital gatekeepers like Apple must allow alternative stores to operate within its App Store, though many have criticised the tech giant for making that as difficult as possible with new regulations and a Runtime Fee-style per-install charge.
Apple had previously caused uproar with a similar response to a ruling in the US, which was intended to open up the App Store to competition.
Over the weekend, it emerged that the EU could fine Apple as much as €500m for its anticompetitive behaviour in the music streaming space, and had deliberately broken iPhone web apps in the EU in response to the Digital Markets Act.
