The ongoing battle between Epic Games and Apple over App Store policies and in-app payments took an interesting turn this week. First, Apple reversed its decision to revoke Epic’s developer account in the European Union. Just two days after taking action against Epic following Tim Sweeney’s criticism of App Store, Apple has backed down. The company has now agreed to reinstate Epic’s developer access in Europe.
Apple’s change of heart seems to have come after an investigation by the European Commission. The Commission was investigating whether Apple’s suspension of Epic’s account was in line with the new Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA aims to curb the power of Big Tech and ensure fair competition. Under pressure from EU regulators, Apple informed both the Commission and Epic that it would reinstate Epic’s developer access.
Apple reinstates Epic Games to App Store after EU pressure
The EC’s action in investigating Apple’s ban appears to have played a key role in persuading the company to reverse its decision. Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said he was pleased that Apple backed down after being contacted by EU officials. “I take note with satisfaction that following our contacts Apple decided to backtrack its decision on Epic exclusion,” Breton said in a post on X.
For Epic, this outcome represents the first major test and victory for the DMA. The new rules were able to force Apple to change its stance against Epic and remedy the anti-competitive effects of banning the developer program. Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, celebrated this victory in a post.
Moreover, the reinstatement of Epic’s developer license means that the company can now launch the Epic Games Store and bring Fortnite back to iOS devices in the EU. This development is hugely significant, as it marks a major step towards competition and consumer choice within the iOS ecosystem.
2024-03-11 15:07:49