Apple Reverses Decision and Reinstates Epic Games’ Developer Account in the European Union
In a surprising turn of events, tech giant Apple has reversed its decision to shut down Epic Games’ developer account in the European Union. The account has now been reinstated, allowing Epic Sweden to once again be a part of the Apple Developer Program. This decision comes after conversations between the two companies, where Epic Games committed to following the rules set by Apple, including their Digital Marketplace Act (DMA) policies.
Earlier this week, Apple terminated Epic Games’ Sweden developer account, effectively preventing the company from developing an alternative app marketplace for iPhone users in the European Union. Apple claimed that this action was taken because Epic Games had breached its contractual obligations in the past. Furthermore, Apple stated that the court decision in the ongoing legal battle between Epic Games and Apple gave them the right to shut down any Epic Games account at any time.
The termination of Epic Games’ account received immediate public backlash, especially due to the emails from Apple that seemed to suggest it was a response to CEO Tim Sweeney’s criticism. Apple’s Phil Schiller engaged in a conversation with Sweeney, requesting written assurance that Epic Games would adhere to the new rules for alternative app marketplaces. However, Apple found Sweeney’s response to be insufficient, leading them to label Epic as “verifiably untrustworthy.” Apple also cited negative comments made by Sweeney about their DMA compliance.
The European Union swiftly intervened and demanded further explanations from Apple regarding the shutdown of the EU Epic Games developer account. This move likely prompted Apple to reconsider its decision. In response, Epic Games issued a statement expressing their belief that the European Commission plans to enforce the DMA promptly. They also announced that the Epic Games store will be coming to Europe, signaling their commitment to launching their own dedicated storefront and bringing Fortnite back to iOS in Europe.
Epic Games had previously announced plans for an alternative app marketplace following Apple’s introduction of support for alternative app stores in the iOS 17.4 beta. The company aims to bring Fortnite and other games to the iPhone through their own storefront. However, specific details regarding the launch of the Epic Games Store for iOS have not yet been provided.
Despite working on an alternative app marketplace, Epic Games has criticized Apple’s compliance with the DMA. Sweeney has referred to Apple’s plan as a “devious new instance of Malicious Compliance” and has vowed to continue arguing in court and with regulators that Apple is breaking the law.
This recent development between Apple and Epic Games highlights the ongoing battle between tech giants and app developers over control and fair competition within the digital marketplace. With the reinstatement of Epic Games’ developer account in the European Union, it remains to be seen how this will impact the future of app distribution and the relationship between Apple and independent developers.
