Apple is still standing in the way of Epic’s app store

Epic faces challenges in growing its EU iOS store due to Apple's high fees and complex terms.

: Epic Games faces significant obstacles in expanding its new iOS store in the European Union. Apple’s fees and terms remain prohibitive for smaller developers. Non-Epic developers might struggle due to higher costs compared to staying on the App Store. Despite these challenges, Epic plans to push ahead with a curated selection of third-party games by December.

Epic Games launched its iOS store in the EU, aiming to be a viable alternative to Apple’s App Store by offering better terms for developers. However, Apple's fees and terms, including a 50 euro cent per-user annual fee and various commissions, make it difficult for smaller developers to benefit from Epic's store.

For Epic, the higher cumulative fees may be a manageable risk, but non-Epic developers could find the arrangement untenable. Steve Allison, Epic's GM, highlighted that developers might pay high fees even for dormant apps due to Apple's terms, adding to the complexity.

Despite these challenges, Epic is hopeful and plans to offer a curated selection of third-party games by December. The company is engaging in difficult discussions with major mobile developers to populate its store, but most are hesitant to join under current conditions.