Epic Games to Bring “Fortress Heroes” Back to iOS in EU Despite Legal Battle with Apple
The legal battle between Epic Games and Apple continues as Epic Games announces plans to bring back the popular game “Fortress Heroes” to iOS devices in the European Union. This move comes after Apple won a case against Epic Games, resulting in the game being removed from the App Store and Epic Games being required to pay approximately US$73.4 million in litigation costs.
However, Epic Games has found a loophole in the EU’s “Digital Market Law” which requires Apple to allow iPhone users in the EU to download applications from third-party app stores. As a result, Epic Games plans to publish “Fortress Heroes” on the upcoming iOS version of the Epic Games Store and bring it back to iOS devices in the EU in 2024.
The dispute between Apple and Epic Games originally began in August 2020 when Epic Games added its own in-app purchase link to the game, bypassing the 30% Apple tax. This resulted in the game being removed from the shelves and Epic Games losing its developer qualifications on the App Store.
While it is still uncertain whether “Fortress Heroes” will make a comeback on iOS devices outside of the EU, Epic Games continues to argue to the courts and regulators that Apple is breaking the law. The ongoing legal battle between the two tech giants shows no sign of slowing down, and the outcome could have far-reaching implications for the future of app distribution on iOS devices. Stay tuned for further developments in this ongoing legal saga.