Epic Games Hits Record EU Player Counts on iOS Store
Epic Games reports record iOS player counts in Europe as its mobile store bypasses Apple fees under new EU laws.
Epic Games is finally seeing its mobile gamble pay off in Europe. After years of bitter legal battles with Apple, the Fortnite creator has reported record-high player counts on iOS devices across the European Union. The surge comes just months after Epic launched its own independent marketplace on iPhones, capitalizing on new European tech laws.
For years, iPhone users had one choice for downloading apps: Apple’s official App Store. That changed in August when Epic rolled out its custom storefront in the EU, thanks to the region’s Digital Markets Act. This law forced Apple to open its ecosystem to rival marketplaces. Now, European players are flocking back to Fortnite, alongside other hit titles like Fall Guys and Rocket League Sideswipe.
Epic’s chief executive, Tim Sweeney, has been open about the early success. According to Sweeney, the store is performing well despite Apple’s attempts to make installation difficult. “We are seeing fantastic momentum,” Sweeney remarked in a recent update. He noted that the EU market has proven there is deep consumer appetite for alternative platforms, even when users have to jump through multiple setup screens to get them.
Epic is currently chasing a goal of 100 million mobile downloads by the end of the year. To get there, the publisher is not just relying on its own app. It has also partnered with third-party mobile platforms like AltStore PAL to distribute its games.
Bypassing the Apple Tax
The financial stakes are massive. Under Apple’s standard terms, developers must hand over up to a 30% cut of all digital purchases. By routing transactions through its own store, Epic bypasses this fee entirely. Still, it is not a completely free run. Apple introduced a “Core Technology Fee” for European developers who opt out of its traditional terms. This fee charges €0.50 for every first annual install after an app passes one million downloads. While Epic has criticized the fee as punitive, the sheer volume of active players suggests the developer is willing to absorb the cost to build its direct-to-consumer relationship.
The path to this point was anything but smooth. Apple kicked Fortnite off the App Store in 2020 after Epic snuck a direct payment system into the game. The move triggered a series of antitrust lawsuits worldwide. While those court battles yielded mixed results, legislative changes in Brussels finally broke the deadlock.
Global Ambitions Beyond Europe
Europe is just the first step. Epic is already laying the groundwork to expand its mobile store globally as other countries mimic the EU’s regulatory approach. Japan passed a similar law earlier this year, set to take effect in late 2025, which will force Apple and Google to allow third-party stores. The United Kingdom is also exploring comparable rules under its Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act.
For now, European gamers are reaping the benefits of this corporate standoff. They have direct access to games that were unavailable on iOS for four years. If Epic’s latest player milestones are any indication, the mobile gaming market in Europe has changed for good, and other regions may soon follow.
