The wildly popular battle royale game "Fortnite," created by Epic Games, is preparing to come back on European iOS devices in 2024.

The launch of the Epic Games Store for iOS, made possible by recent regulatory adjustments brought about by the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in Europe, confirms this much-awaited return.

"Fortnite" can now reenter the iOS environment thanks to these new regulations. The Epic Games Store's cutting-edge features promise players an improved gaming experience when they return to the action-packed world of Fortnite on their iOS devices.

Epic Games and Fortnite to Return to iOS

After a turbulent era, the viral game Fortnite debuted in 2017 has hinted at a possible comeback to the iOS platform. Due to a violation of direct payment laws, the game was taken down from the App Store and Google Play Store in August 2020, which intensified the legal dispute between Epic Games and Apple.

Apple blacklisted Fortnite for five years, impacting its substantial player base on iOS devices. Despite the setback, "Fortnite" hinted at a comeback on iOS through Nvidia GeForce Now, offering a ray of hope for fans.

In 2023, Europe set new rules under the Digital Markets Act. With this act, they plan to shake up how apps sell and boost rival shops. By 2024, these changes may help "Fortnite" come back on iOS devices. Tim Sweeney of Epic Games hinted at this event last year. An Epic Games storefront for iPhones and iPads will likely emerge; here, "Fortnite" could rise once more - thanks to Europe's fresh market laws.

Despite the forthcoming changes allowing Epic Games to monetize iOS users again in Europe, Sweeney criticized Cupertino for imposing "new Junk Fees on downloads and new Apple taxes on payments they don't process." Sweeney expressed displeasure with the terms related to requesting an entitlement from Apple, stating that Apple, as a monopoly, shouldn't dictate the terms of competition. He criticized Apple for undermining free market competition.

The discontent is unsurprising, especially after the US Supreme Court recently rejected Epic's appeal, claiming that Apple violated federal antitrust laws.

The comments highlight ongoing tensions between Epic Games and Apple regarding app store policies and fees.

iOS 17.4 Set to Bring Big Change to App Store

Apple's upcoming iOS 17.4 update will introduce substantial changes to the App Store, allowing users to download apps from non-Apple sources. In reaction to the EU's Digital Markets Act, Apple is preparing for app sideloading - installing apps from sources outside the App Store. Notably, this approach aligns with the regulatory demands and, as of March 6, is fast approaching; it also promotes a more open ecosystem that ensures users can freely decide where to download their apps.

The changes come as part of Apple's efforts to comply with EU regulations, including splitting the App Store into EU and global portions. The company may face potential revenue loss in Europe amid regulatory changes, with critics challenging Apple's commission rates. The timeline for implementing these changes and the potential impact on other platforms remains uncertain.