Epic CEO Tim Sweeney accused Apple of'malicious compliant' when Fortnite returned to iOS but only in Europe with a convoluted installation process

Tim Sweeney and Epic Games CEO, Tim Sweeney have been at odds with Apple for many years. Epic Games wants to bring Fortnite to iPhones and iPads, but only if they can use their own store and payment processor. The official Apple App Store takes a 30% revenue cut. Apple would prefer that Epic didn't do this.

The story in Europe is different. In the US, Epic did not get the ruling that it wanted. The European Union’s 2022 Digital Markets Act requires Apple to allow third party marketplaces on iOS devices. This means Epic can finally sell Fortnite v-bucks in Europe, without paying Apple for the privilege of being able to access one of the largest mobile device markets in the world.

Epic Games Store launches today on iOS in Europe and Android worldwide. It will initially only house three games: Fall Guys (a Rocket League Sideswipe game), Fortnite (a Fortnite-based game), and Rocket League Sideswipe. Fortnite has been unavailable for iOS users since Epic deliberately broke Apple's TOS back in 2020 as a corporate protest.

Apple hasn't made it easy to install the Epic Games Store iOS App. Sweeney, in a press call earlier this week accused Apple of "malicious conformity," saying the company had technically done what was required by the EU but has been "terribly obstructionist" to Epic and other businesses along the way. (At one point, Apple revoked Epic’s developer account.)

Epic says that Apple has obstructed the third-party marketplaces by creating a 15-step installation process.

Some of the steps are standard, such as clicking the "install" button in the Epic Games website. Epic also counts returning to the main iOS page after installation, and opening the newly installed app. The process is long and includes what Epic calls "scare screens," prompts that tell users to change their iOS settings so they can access external marketplaces, which implies risk, and "dead-ends," which are steps where the user doesn't automatically return to the install process.

Epic announced today that the Epic Games Store installation process on iOS and Android was lengthy because Apple and Google intentionally introduced poor-quality installations laden with multiple steps, confusing device setting, and scare screen. "We will continue to fight in court and work with regulators all over the world to eliminate the anticompetitive conditions that Apple and Google impose to developers and consumers so we can build an improved store for everyone."

Epic expects that this complex install process will deter many iOS users from installing the Epic Games Store, but believes that motivated European Fortnite players will make the effort to play Fortnite again on iPhones and iPads. Epic hopes that these players will be the ones to build an install base for the mobile Epic Games Store before adding third-party titles.

Sweeney’s vision of a giant store, launcher and multiplayer platform, which is completely independent from the hardware or software platforms that it runs on - what he used call the "metaverse" but the term has started to fade out of fashion - is one step closer to becoming a reality. He also expects the Epic Games Store to be launched in Japan shortly, once new regulations are implemented.

Since Epic and Apple's large trial, there has been no progress in the United States.

Sweeney said on the call this week that the US regulatory and political system has failed to take a clear, decisive action against the monopolization of a US-based company in the United States and around the world. "That was disheartening, but I hope that in the coming years someone will continue to fight this battle."

"We expect to be locked out of the iOS App Store globally, with the exceptions of these territories, in the near future, and perhaps for years, as we continue our fight around the world."

Epic also launched Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe and Fall Guys in AltStore, a new third-party iOS market that takes advantage of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in Europe.