The alternative app store Epic Games Store is finally coming to iOS in Europe, as well as Android worldwide. Fortnite, Rocket League SideSwipe and Fall Guys are now available on mobile!
After years of legislative battles and harsh statements against Apple and Google, Epic Games is finally launching its own app store, the Epic Games Store, on iOS and Android this Friday, August 16. It can thank the European Union, which decided to end the monopolies of the two digital giants thanks to the DMA – as a result, the alternative app store is only available on iOS in Europe, but indeed worldwide on Android –, as the company announced in a blog post. The first three games available are none other than Fortnite, Rocket League SideSwipe and above all Fall Guys.
Epic Games Store on mobile: three must-have titles
This is excellent news, especially since Fall Guys was previously only available on PC and consoles. Players will now finally be able to enjoy it on mobile, a medium that lends itself particularly well to the title due to its mobility. Fall Guys is a crazy and free battle royale with a very simple concept: a hundred players embodying little bean-shaped men face off in arenas and must complete the current level before the others. At the end of the game, only one remains. It is one of the biggest video game successes of recent years. Note that the mobile version is cross-platform, so it will be possible to play with any players and on any device.
The launch of the Epic Games Store on mobile also marks the return of Fortnite on iOS, four years after Apple kicked the game out of the App Store – Epic Games had deliberately broken Apple’s rules with an in-game payment system. In short, it’s a real day of celebration for the company and its loyal players! Also, those who install the app store and its games on their mobile will be able to enjoy new exclusive in-game quests to unlock new costumes for Fortnite And Fall Guysas well as new vehicles for Rocket League SideSwipe. Once unlocked, these quests will be achievable regardless of the gaming platform.
It’s worth noting that while the Epic Games Store for mobile currently only has three first-party games, the company is already in talks with third-party mobile developers, and is looking to bring a “curated” selection of third-party games to the mobile store by December.
Epic Games Store on mobile: a mixed victory
The launch follows years of litigation between Epic and Apple, as well as regulatory changes brought about by the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which forced Apple to allow alternative app stores. The Epic Games Store can be installed by grabbing it from this address. Epic eventually plans to offer its games on the Aptoide iOS store in the EU and on the ONE Store on Android. Be aware that starting August 23, the company will remove Rocket League SideSwipe from the Apple App Store and Play Store.
“The tide is turning and the mobile ecosystem is finally opening up to competition. We thank the European Commission for making it possible to launch the Epic Games Store and offer our games to iOS users in the European Union. Now all European iOS users and all Android users can access our store and our games, as they have always been able to on open platforms like PC and Mac. The fight is far from over, but this is real progress for developers and consumers who can benefit from competition and greater choice.”rejoiced Tim Sweeney, CEO and founder of Epic Games.
The fact remains that Epic Games’ ambitions could be thwarted by the fees imposed by Apple to be able to venture outside the App Store. Indeed, if a developer wants to reference their application on a third-party store, they must pay Apple a “base technology fee” of €0.50 per year for each installation once the first million is exceeded. This fee applies to application installations on third-party application stores and on the App Store, which can quickly increase the bill for those who have a successful application in the Apple store and who would like to offer it in a third-party store. This risks dissuading developers of successful games from putting their title on a store competing with the App Store… In short, Epic Games still has a long way to go before it can establish itself as a real alternative to Apple.