Epic Games Criticizes Apple for Rejecting Its Game Store in Europe

The battle between Epic Games, creator of Fortnite, and tech giant Apple reaches a boiling point in Europe. This time around, the former accuses the iPhone maker of deliberately hindering their efforts to launch a rival app store on iPhones and iPads, further escalating their ongoing feud over control of the iOS app ecosystem.

With the tech feud reignited between the two big companies, it's expected that this won't cool down easily anytime soon.

Epic Clashes with Apple Over App Store Design Similarities

Epic claims Apple has twice rejected their application to launch the Epic Games Store due to a seemingly trivial reason: the design of buttons and labels, an early Reuters report says.

According to Epic, these buttons adhere to industry standards across multiple platforms. They denounce Apple's justification as "arbitrary" and a violation of the newly implemented Digital Markets Act (DMA).

"We are using the same "Install" and "In-app purchases" naming conventions that are used across popular app stores on multiple platforms, and are following standard conventions for buttons in iOS apps," Epic posted on X.

In response, the video game titan has filed a formal complaint with the European Commission, expressing concern over Apple's potential non-compliance with the law.

A History of Conflict: Legal Battles and Antitrust Concerns

This European dispute is the latest development in a long-running battle. In 2020, Epic initiated legal action in the US, accusing Apple of abusing its market dominance by charging exorbitant commissions on in-app purchases within the App Store. While a US court ruled against a complete App Store monopoly, it did require the iPhone maker to loosen its grip on in-app purchases.

The DMA as a Catalyst for Change in Europe

According to 9to5Mac, the European Union's DMA legislation aims to dismantle the dominance of tech giants like Apple by promoting fair competition within the digital market.

One key provision mandates that Apple allow alternative app stores on iPhones. While Apple implemented changes to comply with the DMA, they still impose a "core technology fee" on developers using these alternative stores, which many perceive as exploitative.

EU Regulators Scrutinize Apple's Compliance with DMA

In May 2024, EU regulators deemed Apple's revised App Store policies insufficient and launched an investigation into their new contract requirements for app developers and stores.

Indeed, the latest development highlights the ongoing struggle between Epic Games and Apple. It also tackles the "tech war" for a more open and competitive app store landscape across the globe.

Apple is currently sandwiched in a lot of conflicts with other companies. Even Google plans to block Safari users from accessing AI features ahead of the antitrust trial's result.