Fortnite returns to Apple after four years of absence, as Epic Games announced in a statement on X (previously called Twitter). And although it does not return as Apple would perhaps have liked, the format they propose for its return opens a world of possibilities to further improve the position of Apple's software as a convenient platform, which is beginning to be somewhat more open.
So if you want to know why Epic removed its most popular game from the App Store and what motivates the fact that Fortnite returns to Apple, we invite you to continue reading this post that will surely get you out of more than one. doubt.
The DMA: the turning point between Epic and Apple
The DMA (Digital Markets Act) is legislation proposed by the European Union to regulate the digital market and promote fair competition. In the case of Apple and its App Store, the European legislator makes it clear that Apple's policy of having only the App Store as the only store to distribute applications on iOS devices could be considered a breach of the DMA, since By default there is no room for alternatives as there is in Android.
By having full control over app distribution on your devices, Apple may impose certain rules and fees that could be considered anti-competitive, and which has led them to have the great demand from Spotify that we talked about on another occasion.
Specifically, Apple charges developers a 30% fee for in-app purchases and also imposes certain restrictions on how developers can distribute and promote their apps outside of the App Store.
This limits the ability of developers to choose other distribution options that could be more beneficial for them, and could also result in higher prices for consumers, because obviously that 30% in order not to lose profit ends up being transferred to users. finals, who are the biggest losers in these cases.
This commission on in-app purchases is what made Epic revolt against Apple and given the refusal to change this, They decided to remove Fortnite from the App Store, leaving only Android or the Nintendo Switch as the only alternatives to play portable.
What has changed for Epic to decide to offer Fortnite again on Apple devices?
I think that, in this sense, Epic Games has a lot to thank Spotify for, because largely thanks to the effect of the lawsuit against Apple Music, for the first time in its history, was open to third-party markets being able to be installed on iOS, macOS and various derivatives.
Since in March of this year Apple announced that they could finally be installed third party markets that they are not pirates, which makes it easier for Epic, Amazon, Steam or whoever wants to distribute their iPhone software away from the hands of the Cupertino company, saving that 30%.
And thanks to this, Epic announced that Fortnite returns to Apple, but yes or yes from the hand of its own application store that will be “developed shortly.”
It should be noted that Apple is not the only company that Epic has gotten cool with: Google and its Play Store are also in the same spotlight, only by being able to use third-party Android stores the problem is not so big for those users .
Who wins with this change?
With this change, a new paradigm opens up in iOS that has never happened before: now the user will be able to decide where to download the games and applications from. And with this measure, there are four beneficiaries and one half-harmed:
App developers
Developers would have more options for distributing their applications, which could lead to greater competition and offer them more flexibility in terms of rates and distribution policies.
They could also have the opportunity to reach a broader user base through multiple stores, so they could cover a larger market and popularize their apps through different means. And that means making more money in the long run, so they are the main winners of the measure.
Consumidores
The consumers could benefit from a greater variety of applications and possibly more competitive prices due to competition between different app stores.
They could also have access to apps that were previously unavailable on Apple's App Store due to its content policies.
It is important to keep in mind that the arrival of new stores will mean that Apple will have to get its act together and start offering discounts in the App Store, which will also be good for the consumer who will be able to save a lot of money with it.
Third party app stores
Of course, Third-party app stores would be the main beneficiariess, as they would have the opportunity to compete directly with Apple's App Store and offer an alternative for developers to distribute their applications.
Since Epic will launch its store to ensure that Fortnite returns to Apple, Steam with its games and even indie developers will be able to have alternative platforms without having to violate the security of the phone or resort to the famous jailbreak.
Apple: You weren't expecting this one, huh?
Although there might be an initial loss of control over app distribution on iOS, Apple could benefit in the long term from greater app diversity and a more robust ecosystem on its platform.
This could lead to an increase in the adoption of iOS devices among users who prefer the openness that Android provides and an increase in sales of related hardware and services. Although they have lost this 30% commission from in-app purchases, they could recover it with that new customer base that contradict services such as iCloud or Apple Music.
And with this we conclude our article about Fortnite, which returns to Apple this 2024 stronger than ever. Are you happy with the measure? Do you think there will be more games to come? If so, Don't hesitate to leave us your comment!