It’s been nearly four years since we officially saw Fortnite on an Apple. Long enough that I thought people had finally given up on having it on Apple devices, but there just seems to be something about the game that can’t keep it down.
Now that Apple has to approve third-party apps thanks to the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Epic Games has officially got a way to get its Pony Riding, clean teeth Flossing, Hyped up Battle Royale back onto iOS. Now we can finally convince our editor, Regardt, to move over!
Remember Fortnite on iOS?
How bout we bring that back.
Later this year Fortnite will return in Europe on iOS through the @EpicGames Store.
(shoutout DMA – an important new law in the EU making this possible). @Apple, the world is watching. pic.twitter.com/VdHWTe8i1c— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) January 25, 2024
The DMA will come into effect from the 7th of March this year, but Apple is still trying to wangle their way around it.
To host a third-party app store on an iOS device, there are a few terms and conditions you will need to accept. One term, in particular, will require you to show a letter of credit for €1,000,000 “to establish financial adequate means in order to guarantee support for your developers and users”.
Other users on X are showing off how costly Apple is actually going to make it to host a third-party app store on their devices.
Under the App Store’s new fee structure for Europe, if you make $10 million in sales, Apple’s cut is $6.2 million annually.
Assuming you have no operating costs or salaries, your take home amount:
$2 million after tax—or 20% of your salesI will never launch an app in Europe. pic.twitter.com/MUCxVHcHOo
— Nikita Bier (@nikitabier) January 25, 2024
This post shows that after both regular and Apple tax, you will only take home 20% of your sales. Other calculations show that you could owe Apple money if you don’t plan your app costs right.
Of course, you could avoid all this and just stick to the old terms and conditions by trying to get your app on the official Apple Store, but then you’re just putting yourself back at square one, just like Apple wants.
Jokes about Fortnite aside, it doesn’t look like Apple is backing down from this battle without a long, tedious fight and just means more suffering for the casual gamer out there.