Apple finally approves Epic Games Store on iOS in Europe after initial rejections

Apple has officially approved the Epic Games Store on iPhones and iPads in Europe, marking a significant development for the Fortnite developer's alternative app marketplace in the region. This approval follows Epic Games' accusations that Apple had been deliberately delaying the notarization process for its store in the European Union. Epic claimed that Apple had twice rejected its documents due to design similarities between certain buttons and labels and those used by the Apple App Store.

The approval comes in the wake of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires Apple to permit third-party app stores on iOS, as the company has been designated a “gatekeeper” under EU law. Despite this compliance, companies like Epic Games and Spotify have criticized Apple's fees and other business terms, arguing that the tech giant is still not fully adhering to the DMA's regulations. Both app developers and antitrust regulators have long criticized Apple's stringent control over the iOS app ecosystem, but it's gradually evolving.