Fortnite developer Epic Games announced Friday that it has officially launched a rival iOS app store in the European Union, with the Epic Games Store also launching on Android worldwide.
The app store will feature games like Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe and Fall Guys, and the company said it is working with developers to release games on the Epic Games Store in the future.
Epic Games will also be offering its games on independent mobile store AltStore PAL, which announced yesterday that its app store will be available for free thanks to a grant from Epic Games.
The company said Epic Games plans to offer its games on Aptoide's iOS store in the EU and the Android ONE store in the future.
Fortnite's return to iOS comes more than four years after Apple first removed the game from its App Store. Its reinstatement comes after a years-long legal battle between the two companies, as well as regulatory changes under the EU's Digital Markets Act that are forcing Apple to open up to new rivals.
“The tide is turning and the mobile ecosystem is finally opening up to competition,” Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said in a statement. “We're grateful to the European Commission for launching the Epic Games Store and making our games available to iOS users in the European Union. Now, iOS users in Europe and all Android users can access our store and games as they always have on open platforms like PC and Mac. The fight is not over yet, but this is tangible progress for developers and consumers who can start to benefit from competition and choice.”
The company has published a video showing users the steps required to install the Epic Games Store on iOS and Android.
Epic Games says that currently, “the process to install the Epic Games Store on iOS and Android is long because Apple and Google intentionally implemented a poor installation experience that includes multiple steps, confusing device settings, and scary screens.”
The launch of the Epic Games Store marks the first time Apple will face off against a prominent rival looking to challenge its dominance of the App Store.