Apple made a significant decision on Friday by allowing Epic Games to develop a competing European app store for iPhones. This turnaround came after a heated feud between the two companies, which also sparked discussions about a new law governing big tech in Europe. “Following conversations with Epic, they have committed to follow the rules, including our DMA policies,” an Apple spokesperson revealed in an email to AFP.
The approval for Epic Games to create a rival app store for iPhones comes in the wake of the Digital Markets Act coming into effect in Europe. This landmark legislation requires the largest tech companies to open up their platforms to promote competition. The DMA designates six major firms as “gatekeepers” and demands that they adhere to stringent new regulations. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney hailed this development as “a big win for European rule of law, for the European Commission, and for the freedom of developers worldwide to speak up.”
The clash between Apple and Epic Games escalated earlier in the week when Epic’s effort to establish an app store for its video game empire was rejected by Apple. Specifically, Apple closed Epic’s developer account based in Sweden on March 2, restricting its ability to create software necessary for launching standalone stores on Apple devices in Europe. Tim Sweeney criticized Apple’s actions as akin to “feudal lords mounting the skulls of their former enemies on their castle” in an attempt to discourage dissent.
Epic Games has been entangled in legal disputes with Apple and Google over access to app stores for years. The gaming company has advocated for opening up iPhone and Android devices to competing app stores and reducing the hefty fees charged for purchases on these platforms. These demands were reflected in the DMA’s comprehensive guidelines for gatekeepers, which were enforced on Thursday. The EU’s internal market commissioner, Thierry Breton, expressed satisfaction with Apple’s decision to reverse its stance on excluding Epic Games, attributing it to the impact of the Digital Markets Act.
The resolution of the conflict between Apple and Epic Games marks a significant moment in the realm of big tech regulation in Europe. The implications of the Digital Markets Act are already being felt, with major companies like Apple being compelled to reevaluate their practices to comply with new standards of competition and fairness.
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