It’s been four years since players worldwide can’t play Fortnite on iOS because Apple blocked Epic Games from the App Store. Now, Epic Games has its own app store available for iOS in some countries. But why isn’t it available for everyone? We’ll explain.
Why isn’t Fortnite and Epic Games Store available on iOS everywhere?
Epic Games released its app store on iOS only in the European Union because of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which seeks to implement a fairer space in the digital market and allow for competition. That means Apple has to allow other app stores on their device, but only countries part of the European Union can download and install the Epic Games Store mobile app and play Fortnite on an iPhone.
You won’t find Fortnite or the Epic Games Store app in Apple’s app store. The Epic Games Store app is a third-party store where you’ll be able to download Fortnite Chapter Five, LEGO Fortnite, Rocket Racing, Fortnite Festival, and creator-made islands built with UEFN—plus Fall Guys and Rocket League Sideswipe.
If you live in any other country or even in the U.K., you still won’t be able to install the Epic Games Store mobile app because of Apple’s block.
Epic is planning on launching the app on iOS in the U.K. and Japan in 2025, and will add more games to the store and weekly free games or content packs in the future.
Why did Apple block Epic Games from the App Store?
In 2020, Epic Games offered the option for players to directly pay them on Fortnite purchases instead of using Apple’s payment method, so they could save up on Apple’s cut from the sale. Apple’s first response was to remove Fortnite from the App Store, which blocked all updates to Fortnite. People have been stuck playing Chapter Two, season three for four years on mobile.
The block initiated the Free Fortnite movement and a legal battle that only reached something close to an end for E.U. iOS users in 2024 because of the DMA. Epic Games claims Apple’s practice “[suppresses] free market” and they did it to “save players up to 20 percent” in fees. With the new Epic Games Store app, the purchasing fees will take a maximum 12 percent, according to Wired.
Google did the same thing as Apple, but Android users worldwide can now download the Epic Games Store app, unlike iOS users. Google’s policy regarding third-party apps has always been looser than Apple’s which allows for the worldwide coverage.
