Apple (AAPL.O) announced on Friday that it has granted approval for Epic Games’ marketplace app on iPhones and iPads in Europe, following heightened tensions between the two companies. Epic Games had accused Apple of obstructing its efforts to establish a games store on Apple devices.
According to Apple, the recent dispute revolves around the Epic Sweden AB Marketplace and does not involve Epic Games’ Fortnite app, which had already been approved earlier.
Criticism from app developers and antitrust regulators regarding Apple’s strict control over the iOS app ecosystem has intensified. Prior to Apple’s announcement, Epic Games had claimed that Apple rejected its submissions twice, citing similarities in button and label designs with those used in the App Store.
Epic Games stated, “We are using the same ‘Install’ and ‘In-app purchases’ naming conventions found in popular app stores across multiple platforms, and we are following standard iOS app button conventions.”
In response to Apple’s rejection, Epic Games labeled it as arbitrary, obstructive, and in violation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), expressing its concerns to the European Commission. The Commission, currently investigating Apple’s app validation processes and regulations on sideloading alternative app stores, declined to comment on the matter.
Since 2020, Epic and Apple have been embroiled in a legal battle, triggered by Epic Games’ allegations that Apple’s practice of charging commissions up to 30% on in-app payments violates U.S. antitrust laws within its iOS ecosystem.
Earlier this year, Apple proposed policy changes to its App Store, aiming to comply with DMA directives that came into effect in March. These changes included allowing alternative app stores on iPhones and providing an option to opt-out of using Apple’s in-app payments system, albeit with a “core technology fee” that some developers criticized as exploitative.
