Epic Games storefront launches for EU users, brings Fortnite back to the iPhone in a regional capacity

Following a four-year absence and legal squabble, Fortnite is returning to iPhones, albeit only for users within the European Union. The return is part of a broader launch of the Epic Games Store for iPhone, which went live last week in the EU.

The return of the game to iOS is part of the EU Digital Markets Act ruling, which forced Apple to allow third-party app marketplaces on its platforms. EU-based users can download the Epic Games Store by visiting Epic’s website on their iPhones.

The overarching legal issue began when Fortnite was removed from the App Store in 2020 following a legal dispute between Epic and Apple over its in-app purchase system.

Fortnite’s availability is undoubtedly the headline feature of the Epic. Prior to that, Fortnite on iOS made more than $700 million over two years, while Apple collected more than $100 million in revenue from the 30 percent cut that it took from Fortnite in-app purchases.

Otherwise, the current game catalog in the iOS Epic Games Store is limited, featuring only a handful of Epic’s own titles such as Fortnite and Rocket League Sideswipe. However, the company says it plans to expand the library over time and is in discussions with third-party mobile developers.

In the future, Epic and Apple will have to sort out Apple’s new fee structure, which includes a “Core Technology Fee” of €0.50 per install per year after the first million installs. This fee applies to both the Epic Games Store itself and the games within it, effectively doubling the charge for popular titles like Fortnite. The EU commission is currently investigating whether Apple’s new fee structure complies with the Digital Markets Act.

The Epic Games Store app requires an iPhone running iOS 17.4 or later, and iPad users will have to wait until the release of iPadOS 18 later this year to access the store on their devices. Epic says it plans to expand the availability of its store to other regions where regulations permit, with Japan slated for a 2025 launch.

If you have a chance to try the Epic Games storefront in the EU, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

Via MacRumors and Epic Games