Apple Reinstates Epic Games’ Developer Account, Sideloading Fortnite Available

Apple had an immediate change of heart and reinstated Epic Games' developer account on the App Store, and this paved the way again for European users to download its lone application. This centers on the Epic Games Store available on the EU version of the App Store, an app marketplace that will focus on sideloading apps to bring to the iOS, including the famed battle royale, Fortnite.

This came days after Apple initially banned Epic Games' account on the App Store, stating that the game publishing and developing company allegedly violated their contract.

Apple Reinstates Epic Games Account on the EU App Store

Epic Sweden AB, the games company's Europe-based developer account, has been reinstated on the Apple App Store after the company first decided to remove it from its platform. According to Apple's statement (via Ars Technica), both Cupertino and Epic had talks regarding this and said that the games developer "committed to following the rules," alongside the DMA.

Through this, Epic Games is back yet again on the App Store, with the company accepting to be part of the Apple Developer Program and re-signing another developer agreement.

Initially, Apple cited several reasons for this seizure, one being Epic Games' breach of their contract, and the other was due to Tim Sweeney's thread posts against Cupertino on X.

Sideloading Fortnite Now Available on the EU

No matter the issues between both companies, this only means that sideloading Fortnite on the EU via the Epic Games Store is now available again for the region's citizens to enjoy. It also means that the other iOS apps and experiences which Epic developed and is made available on their third-party marketplace are available for EU users to take advantage of, now that it is back.

Apple, Epic Games, and EU's DMA

Apple and Epic Games have long had a beef against each other, and this started with the iconic 2020 dispute between them when the games company decided to go against the App Store policy which aims to avoid the 70-30 commission. The iconic Nineteen-Eighty Fortnite campaign came after the game was booted out of the App Store, alongside an injunction against the company.

This led to massive lawsuits and court battles against the other, one that stems until earlier this year when the US court denied Apple and Epic's appeals.

While in the US, there are still no chances for Epic Games to return to the iOS platform, the EU made it possible for the company's return, teasing a Fortnite comeback for the platform, and CEO Tim Sweeney being critical on X against Cupertino.

Earlier this week, Apple removed Epic Games' developer account, seizing their lone app, the Epic Games Store, out of the platform which sparked yet another controversy between the two. As the EU looked into investigating the issue, Apple reinstated Epic's account, marking its return yet again on the App Store but only in the European region, allowing sideloading of its apps moving forward.