Epic Games Exposes Retaliatory Strikes Amidst App Store Battle!

Epic Games alleges that Apple's recent actions are a retaliatory response to Epic's public criticism of Apple's compliance plan with the Digital Markets Act. However, Apple asserts it cannot trust Epic's promises due to its past misconduct.

Last month, Epic announced that Apple had approved an iOS developer account for Epic Games' division in Sweden, paving the way for Fortnite's return to the App Store in Europe for the first time since 2020. However, Apple has recently terminated that account, a decision that Epic claims is a "serious violation of the DMA, demonstrating Apple's lack of intent to allow true competition on iOS devices."

Epic refers to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the new European regulation that compelled Apple to officially allow third-party apps on iOS devices in Europe. Since Apple announced its compliance plans with the DMA in January, many external developers have openly complained about the strict conditions Apple imposes on companies seeking to integrate alternative app stores on their devices.

Epic argues that Apple's decision in this case was based, at least in part, on Epic's public criticism of Apple's proposed DMA compliance plan. To support this claim, Epic shared a copy of a letter dated March 2 from the law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, explicitly stating that "given Epic's past and current conduct, Apple cannot allow Epic Games Sweden to be part of its ecosystem."

"Apple is retaliating against Epic for speaking out against the company's unfair and illegal practices, just as it has done with other developers time and time again," Epic stated in their declaration yesterday.