The ongoing battle between Apple and Epic Games takes another turn as the Epic Games Store app for EU iPhones successfully passes Apple’s notarization process. This milestone brings the alternative app store closer to offering direct app sales to iOS users outside of the App Store. However, the approval comes with a caveat as Apple has requested Epic to address button design issues in a future submission to the app review process.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney took to social media to share the news of the app’s temporary approval by Apple. However, Sweeney portrays Apple’s request to “fix the buttons” in a slightly different light, stating that the tech giant is demanding changes to the buttons in the next app version. Sweeney vows to fight against Apple’s demands, indicating that this may not be the end of the dispute between the two companies.
Back-and-Forth Saga
This conditional approval marks the latest chapter in the ongoing saga between Apple and Epic. Previously, Apple reinstated Epic Games Sweden’s European developer license following an investigation by EU regulators. Epic’s submission of the store app, along with Fortnite, to Apple’s iOS notarization process at the beginning of the month initially faced rejection. Apple cited similarities in the in-app purchases label and Install button design as reasons for the rejection, claiming they closely resembled Apple’s own features.
The approval of the Epic Games Store app for EU iPhones, despite the button design issue, has significant implications for the tech industry. It showcases the increasing tension between major tech companies like Apple and developers like Epic over app distribution and revenue-sharing models. The outcome of this dispute could have far-reaching consequences for how apps are distributed on the iOS platform in the future.
The Epic Games Store app’s approval for EU iPhones marks a significant milestone in the ongoing battle between Apple and Epic. While the approval is conditional and comes with requests for design changes, it underscores the complexities of app distribution and the power dynamics at play in the tech industry. As both companies continue to clash over app store policies, the consequences of this dispute will likely reverberate throughout the tech world.
Leave a Reply