Epic Games says Fortnite returning to iOS in EU, leaving Samsung app store

Epic Games announced on Thursday that its popular game “Fortnite” will soon return to Apple’s iOS systems in the European Union, marking a significant development in its prolonged legal battle with Apple. Epic has been pushing to distribute its games outside of the official app stores run by smartphone companies, opposing the high commissions on in-app payments and the restriction of downloads to dedicated stores.

In protest of Samsung’s decision to block default side-loading on Android devices, Epic will be removing its games from the Samsung Galaxy Store, labeling the move as “anticompetitive.” Instead, Epic’s mobile games will be available on AltStore, a third-party store that allows side-loading, in the EU. Additionally, Epic plans to announce “support” for at least two other third-party stores.

Epic’s own marketplace, the Epic Games Store, will also launch on Android worldwide and on iOS in the European Union, though the company did not specify when this will happen.

Earlier in July, Apple approved the Epic Games Store app for iPhones and iPads in Europe, following Epic’s escalation of its dispute with Apple. Meanwhile, Apple is under intense scrutiny from EU competition regulators, who stated in June that the company’s App Store practices violate the Digital Markets Act.