After announcing that the Epic Games Store iOS developer account was subsequently approved by Apple back in February, Epic has dropped a bombshell today alleging Apple has terminated their developer account.
Just like when Epic Games posted that their developer account had been approved, just over two weeks later, Epic took to X (formerly Twitter) to claim Apple had taken away the permissions they had initially given to Epic as a developer for the iOS platform. The initial permission for the developer account they’ve been cultivating was also announced on the X platform, and the initial announcement can be seen below.
Back on February 16, Epic Games said, “We’ve received our Apple Developer Account and will start developing the Epic Games Store on iOS soon thanks to the new Digital Markets Act. We plan to launch in 2024. Epic Games Sweden AB will operate the mobile Epic Games Store and Fortnite in Europe, with the Store team leading development” in celebration of their Apple Developer Account. Today paints a different story, as the Epic Games Store has once again taken to X, this time to say Apple has terminated this very account, so Epic Games can no longer develop for the iOS platform.
In a statement on the Epic Games Store website, Epic says, “Apple has terminated that account, and now we cannot develop the Epic Games Store for iOS. This is a serious violation of the DMA and shows Apple has no intention of allowing true competition on iOS devices” regarding the sudden account termination.
The DMA (Digital Markets Act) states, “The gatekeeper shall allow and technically enable the installation and effective use of third-party software applications or software application stores using, or interoperating with, its operating system and allow those software applications or software application stores to be accessed by means other than the relevant core platform services of that gatekeeper” and in this predicament, Apple is the gatekeeper.
Epic alleges, “In terminating Epic’s developer account, Apple is taking out one of the largest potential competitors to the Apple App Store” and suggests if Apple can do this to Epic, they can do it to anyone, considering they’ve been working with Apple since 2010 (via contractual relationships).
Fans can visit the Epic Games Store post to catch up on the entire scenario thus far, as Apple has yet to provide any feedback on this ongoing issue.
