Epic Games Store Finally Arrives on iOS in the European Union

The Long-Awaited Arrival

As of late August 2024, the Epic Games Store is live on iOS devices within the European Union, marking the first time a third-party marketplace has operated on Apple’s mobile platform under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The launch ends a four-year absence of Fortnite from iOS in the region and introduces an alternative distribution channel that challenges Apple’s near-total control over app commerce. Epic Games confirmed the rollout on its blog, noting that users can now download the store via a dedicated installer hosted on Epic’s website, bypassing the App Store entirely.

Opening the Gates: DMA and Apple’s Compliance

The arrival is a direct consequence of the European Union’s DMA, which went into force in March 2024. Apple was designated a “gatekeeper” for its App Store and iOS ecosystem, forcing it to allow alternative app marketplaces. Apple’s compliance plan, announced in January 2024, introduced a new framework for sideloading and third-party stores, but included controversial terms such as a Core Technology Fee (CTF) of €0.50 per annual install after the first 1 million installs. Epic Games, which had sued Apple over antitrust violations in 2020, was one of the first to announce its intention to launch a competing store under the new rules. The legal battle between the two companies in the U.S. largely concluded in 2021, but the DMA gave Epic a regulatory lever in Europe that it lacked in other markets.

What’s Available on the Epic Games Store for iOS

The storefront currently offers a limited catalog centered on Epic’s own titles. Fortnite returns to iOS in the EU after being removed from the App Store in August 2020 for violating in-app payment rules. Alongside it, Epic is offering Rocket League Sideswipe and Battle Breakers. The store also includes the Epic Games launcher’s familiar social features, such as friends lists, voice chat, and achievements, integrated through Epic Online Services. Users who log in with an existing Epic account will retain their V-Bucks and progress. Free games, a staple of the Epic Games Store on PC, will be offered on iOS starting with Fortnite’s “Chapter 5 – Season 3” cosmetics as a welcome gift. Epic has stated that third-party titles will follow once the store’s infrastructure stabilizes.

The Economics: Revenue Splits and Fees

Epic Games Store on iOS retains its standard 88/12 revenue split, where developers keep 88% of in-app purchases and Epic takes 12%. This undercuts the App Store’s standard 30% commission (or 15% for small developers) by a wide margin. However, Epic must pay Apple’s Core Technology Fee for each install of the Epic Games Store itself—not per individual app within it. The CTF applies after the marketplace exceeds 1 million first annual installs in the EU. For a store like Epic’s, which already has tens of millions of users on other platforms, that threshold will almost certainly be reached quickly. Epic has stated it will absorb the CTF costs for the first year for developers distributing free games, but long-term economics remain unclear. Developers using Epic’s payment processor on the store will avoid the additional 3% processing fee that Apple charges for payments processed through the App Store.

How to Install and Potential Hurdles

Installing the Epic Games Store requires users to navigate a multi-step sideloading process. Users visit epicgames.com from Safari on their iPhone or iPad, download the installer profile, and then trust the developer certificate through Settings > General > VPN & Device Management. Apple’s notarization process still applies: each alternative marketplace must be signed and cryptographically notarized by Apple for malware scanning, a requirement that Epic has publicly criticized as unnecessarily burdensome. Additionally, the store is only available on devices running iOS 17.4 or later, which shipped in March 2024 with DMA compliance. Because the process does not rely on the App Store, users cannot install the Epic Games Store via a simple tap—a friction that may limit adoption among less technical users. Epic has said it is working with third-party sideloading tools like AltStore to streamline distribution in future updates.

Impact on the Gaming Ecosystem

The immediate effect is the return of Fortnite to iOS after a four-year absence in one of the largest gaming markets in Europe. For Epic, the store represents a beachhead: it now operates distribution channels on PC, Mac (through Epic Games Store), Android (via its own store and third-party app stores), and iOS in the EU. The move pressures Apple to reconsider its commission structure globally, especially as regulators in Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States examine similar digital market reforms. For players, the store offers direct downloads of major titles without Apple’s revenue cut, potentially lowering prices for in-game purchases. However, the CTF creates an ongoing cost that Epic must offset, and the limited catalog may struggle to compete with the millions of apps available through the App Store. The next six months will be critical in determining whether independent developers follow Epic’s lead into alternative marketplaces, or if the CTF and sideloading friction deter widespread adoption.