Epic Games Store Launches on Android and iPhone

Epic Games today launched its mobile app store, Epic Games Store, on Android and iPhone, though only in the EU in the latter case. Because Apple.

“Today, the Epic Games Store is available for download on iPhones in the European Union and on Android devices worldwide,” Epic Games tweeted. “We’re launching on iOS devices in the European Union thanks to the Digital Markets Act, but Apple is still blocking all other iOS users outside of Europe from accessing Fortnite and Epic Games Store for iOS.”

It goes without saying that Epic Games has a rocky relationship with the makers of these two mobile platforms, having faced off against each of them in antitrust court. Epic Games won its case against Google handily, but it received a mixed ruling with Apple, thanks in part to that company’s secretive business practices and a lack of evidence. No worries: The U.S. Department of Justice will crack that nut, just as it doing with Google Search, it’s just a matter of time.

In the meantime, the European Union has moved even more aggressively, requiring Big Tech gatekeepers like Apple and Google to open up their dominant platforms. In January, Epic Games began talking about bringing Fortnite back to the iPhone–it had been banned by Apple as part of their legal battle–and in February, after Apple reinstated the Epic Games developer account, it said the store would launch in 2024.

There’s a lot more to this drama–Apple can’t help being belligerent, it seems–but a full recap of this short history would require a book. What matters today is that the Epic Games Store is available, finally, on mobile.

“The store is launching with Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and the all-new Fall Guys for mobile, and we are working to enable all developers to launch their games and apps through the Epic Games Store in the future,” the Epic Games announcement explains. “We are also bringing our games to independent mobile stores including AltStore PAL today.”

Unfortunately for fans of these games, Apple and Google are still doing everything they can to make things difficult, using a well-understand malicious compliance strategy to forestall the inevitable. Meaning, you can’t just go to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, install the Epic Games Store like a normal person and get on with your life. Instead, you have to jump through some hoops. There may be a chicken sacrifice in there somewhere, too. It’s complicated.

“For now, the process of installing the Epic Games Store on iOS and Android is lengthy due to Apple and Google introducing intentionally poor-quality install experiences laden by multiple steps, confusing device settings, and scare screens,” Epic Games says of this issue. “We are continuing to fight in courts and work with regulators around the globe to eliminate the anticompetitive terms that Apple and Google impose on developers and consumers, so we can build a better store for everyone.”

Epic Games explains the ridiculous processes in separate videos for Android and iPhone. But you can get started by navigating to this link at Epic Games on your smartphone and following the instructions. I don’t live in the EU, so I installed the Epic Games Store on Android and used that to install Fortnite. This required multiple steps, as promised, two settings configuration changes, and then a third 16 GB download when I finally ran the Fortnite download. Whew.

At least it works. And it will only get better.