CEO Tim Sweeney has hinted that the popular game Fortnite would return to iOS in 2023, almost three years after it was banned from the App Store for breaking Apple’s policies, sparking a high-profile court fight.
Next year on iOS!
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) December 31, 2022
Sweeney rang in the New Year with a tweet reading, “Next year on iOS!” He then included a picture of a Fortnite character gazing upward at the new year ”2023” fireworks in the sky. In order to comply with the recently approved DMA (Digital Markets Act) regulation in Europe, Apple is said to be intending to enable sideloading and alternative app sources with iOS 17. Epic Games could, in principle, introduce Fortnite again to iOS under the legislation, but not directly via the App Store. While this wouldn’t be a complete victory, iOS users should rejoice hearing the news.
When Epic Games implemented a direct payment option in Fortnite that bypassed Apple’s in-app purchase mechanism in August 2020, Apple withdrew the game from the App Store. After Epic was found to be at fault for breaking Apple’s guidelines, Apple pulled Fortnite from the App Store. Epic Games has filed action against the Cupertino tech giant after Apple removed the Fortnite app from the App Store. The firm claims it is advocating for regulatory reforms and open platforms that would be good for all software creators.
It’s been three years since a court ordered Apple to let devs to add in-app connections to other websites, opening the door to payment methods other than the in-app purchase method, but both Epic Games and Apple are now challenging that judgment. Epic Games argues that Apple’s monopoly on iOS and the Software Store is harmful to competition and that third-party app shops should be permitted on the iPhone. However, Apple maintains that downloading applications via the App Store is the most secure and trustworthy option for both app creators and app consumers.
