Apple has approved the Epic Games Store in the European Union after Epic Games publicly complained that Apple had repeatedly rejected their application, alleging a violation of E.U. law. Epic Games took to social media to criticize Apple for rejecting their submission twice due to similarities with the App Store. They argued that button names like “Install” and “In-app purchases” are industry standards, and Apple’s rejection was arbitrary and obstructive. The posts went viral, and Apple eventually accepted the submission. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney expressed relief that development is back on track, also pointing out delays in using Apple’s TestFlight program. It is unclear if Apple’s decision was influenced by the online backlash. Apple has confirmed the approval but requested Epic Games to make its Marketplace less similar to the App Store in the future.
Epic Games has been in a long-standing battle against app store companies like Apple and Google, claiming that they unfairly take large revenue cuts from applications. The E.U. announced an investigation into Apple’s noncompliance with the Digital Markets Act in June, citing concerns about lack of independence for app developers on the App Store. Epic Games’ approval in the E.U. marks a win in their ongoing struggle against big tech companies over app store policies and revenue sharing.
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