The Epic Games Store launched Friday, allowing iPhone users to install the popular Fortnite for the first time since Apple kicked Epic out of the official App Store in 2020.
But there’s an important caveat: the new iOS app marketplace is available only in the European Union.
Fortnite for iPhone is back — if you live in the EU
Apple and Epic Games became embroiled in a bitter legal fight four years ago. Epic introduced a version of Fortnite that circumvented Apple’s requirement that the iPhone-maker receive 30% of in-app payments. Apple responded by booting Fortnite from the App Store. So Epic Games started a lawsuit that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, but it still isn’t allowed to put games in the official iPhone App Store.
Then the European Union instituted the Digital Markets Act. Among numerous other changes, this forced Apple to allow rival iOS app marketplaces. So now there’s the Epic Games Store, but only in the EU.
Epic games plus more
To get players excited, Fortnite Battle Royale Chapter 5, Season 4: Absolute Doom launches Friday.
While Fortnite is Epic’s best-known title, but it’s not the only one in the company’s new software market. There’s also Rocket League Sideswipe and the all-new Fall Guys for mobile.
It won’t stop there. “We are working to enable all developers to launch their games and apps through the Epic Games Store in the future,” Epic Games wrote in a blog post on Friday.
Get the Epic Games Store
iPhone users in the EU can install the Epic Games Store onto their iPhone now via the company’s website. A video offers a How-To on the process.
But it’s not the only option to play Epic’s offerings. “We are also bringing our games to independent mobile stores including AltStore PAL today,” the developer announced. It’s even helping financially support AltStore PAL as this EU rival to the App Store gets off the ground.
