Apple Approves Epic Games Store for iPhone and iPad in EU

Apple today said it has approved the third-party Epic Games Store in the European Union, allowing the Fortnite developer to launch its alternative app marketplace in those countries, reports Reuters. ‌Epic Games‌ had submitted the ‌Epic Games‌ Store to Apple for notarization earlier this week.

fortnite apple featured
Earlier today, Epic stated Apple had twice rejected the ‌Epic Games‌ Store this week, with Apple reportedly claiming that an "Install" button and "in-app purchases" labels were too similar to Apple's own elements for the App Store. Epic argued that the rejection was "arbitrary, obstructive, and in violation of the DMA [Digital Markets Act]" and that it was reporting the issue to the European Commission, but it appears Apple has relented and approved Epic's previously rejected submission.

‌Epic Games‌ and Apple have been engaged in a years-long battle over Apple's closed ‌App Store‌ ecosystem, and Epic has been eager to launch its own marketplace in the EU under Apple's new policies driven by the Digital Markets Act.

Popular Stories

iphone 16 apple intelligence

Apple Aiming to Release 'Breakthrough' New iPhone Accessory

Wednesday February 18, 2026 12:43 pm PST by
Apple is looking for a "breakthrough" with its push into wearable AI devices, including an "AirTag-sized pendant," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the pendant is reminiscent of the failed Humane AI Pin, but it would be an iPhone accessory rather than a standalone product. The pendant would feature an "always-on" camera and a microphone for Siri voice...
iphone 17 pro green

iPhone 17 Pro Max Curiously Becomes Most Traded-In Smartphone

Wednesday February 18, 2026 9:13 am PST by
New trade-in data indicates that Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max has rapidly become the single most traded-in smartphone. According to a new report from SellCell, Apple's latest flagship iPhone has quickly risen to the top of the independent trade-in market, accounting for 11.5% of all devices appearing in the top-20 trade-in rankings just months after release. The analysis is based on SellCell...
Multicolored Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature

Low-Cost MacBook Expected on March 4 in These Colors

Wednesday February 18, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple will announce its rumored low-cost MacBook at its event on March 4, with the device coming in a selection of bold color options, according to a known leaker. Earlier this week, Apple announced a "special Apple Experience" for the media in New York, London, and Shanghai, taking place on March 4, 2026 at 9:00am ET. Posting on Weibo, the leaker known as "Instant Digital" said that the...
CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark

iOS 26.4's New CarPlay Video Feature Shown in Action

Wednesday February 18, 2026 9:29 am PST by
Back at WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that it was planning to allow CarPlay users to watch video via AirPlay in their vehicles while they are not driving, and the first beta of iOS 26.4 suggests the feature may be nearing availability. There are several new references to CarPlay video streaming functionality within the iOS 26.4 beta's source code. The feature is not yet visible to users, but...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

10 Reasons to Wait for Apple's iPhone 18 Pro

Wednesday February 18, 2026 5:12 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...

Top Rated Comments

VertPin Avatar
21 months ago

Seriously Epic? Eat dirt. No one wants your terrible junk software. Epic games store on windows is absolute trash - why would anyone in their right mind want to download epic games store on iPhone?

Edit: unreal tournament was awesome though.
no one wants their software? are you sure about that?
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
21 months ago

Curse the EU for this
"I want other people to have less choice"
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ApplesAreSweet&Sour Avatar
21 months ago

Seriously Epic? Eat dirt. No one wants your terrible junk software. Epic games store on windows is absolute trash - why would anyone in their right mind want to download epic games store on iPhone?

Edit: unreal tournament was awesome though.
Last time I checked, there's like 1-2 million playing Fortnite concurrently around the clock.

The Epic Games Store might be terrible. But there's a ton of demand for the games they offer.

And thinking from the pov of consumers, and ignoring Apple's losses from not getting to tax Epic's games in the EU, I really don't get this whining.

Nobody is taking anything away from us. We just get more choices.

Sure, those choices might not be attractive to exactly you.

But just like nobody is forcing you to eat at Denny's, or shop at Walmart, or switch to Verizon, you don't have to install anything onto your flawless, virgin Apple devices from any dirty, malware infested app stores that aren't taxed by Apple if that's what you want.

Apple should just get its act together and spend some of those trillions on acquiring the devs that are going to churn out the next AAA hit and make it an App Store exclusive.

Beat the competition by offering the best, most viral games, not by forcing them to pay through their noses just to be on your app store.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cuiver Avatar
21 months ago
Having choice is always the best choice.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
VertPin Avatar
21 months ago

Curse the EU for this
what's wrong with this? only because it makes you unhappy? this is good for consumers and competition.
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
21 months ago
Epic has shown itself to be a bad-faith operator when it comes to this stuff. Hard pass. It’s a shame because their R&D side is legit.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)