Apple did not succeed in its attempt to hinder the return of Epic Games and Fortnite: Battle Royale to iOS and the App Store. Cupertino's company had blocked Epic's developer account, but the scandal was significant enough for the European Commission to intervene, bringing the matter to a resolution.
Apple Yielded to the European Commission and Unlocked Epic Games' Account
Through a post on Epic Games' official site, Tim Sweeney's company announced the unlocking of its iOS developer account, Epic Sweden. This allows Epic to continue preparing for its return to Apple's digital platform, enabling the comeback of Fortnite: Battle Royale, this time with the possibility of conducting transactions within the game store and not solely through the App Store.
The DMA went through its first major challenge with Apple banning Epic Games Sweden from competing with the App Store, and the DMA just had its first major victory. Following a swift inquiry by the European Commission, Apple notified the Commission and Epic that it would relent…
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) March 8, 2024
According to the information, Apple's decision to lift the block on Epic Sweden was prompted by the immediate reaction of the European Commission, which requested an explanation and justification from Apple regarding its decision. The iPhone company chose not to get into trouble and opted to cancel the block.
In response, Epic Games stated: "The DMA was designed to eliminate the same power imbalance that Apple is showing exists today, as they claim total control to block competing stores and apps. We will continue to fight to bring true competition and choices to iOS devices in Europe and around the world."
A few days ago, Apple decided to terminate Epic Games' developer account, deeming the company and its practices as untrustworthy. An Apple executive even sent an email questioning Epic's past actions and the lack of guarantees regarding its future movements. Despite this, European authorities promptly addressed the situation, and both parties received a response.
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