Epic CEO criticizes Apple, Fortnite still absent from iOS in Japan.

Epic Games has confirmed that its popular game Fortnite will continue to be unavailable on iOS in Japan. This decision comes despite the country enacting new laws to promote competition in the mobile software market. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has publicly criticized Apple, claiming the company is defying legal regulations.

Context from the new competition law

The rivalry between Epic Games and Apple has heated up again in the Japanese market, following the country's passage of the Mobile Software Competition Act. In theory, this law forces tech giants like Apple to allow the existence of third-party app stores, breaking the App Store's monopoly on iOS devices.

Although Apple has officially complied by allowing alternative app stores, Epic Games argues that these changes are merely symbolic and do not truly create a level playing field.

Epic's arguments and Apple's hurdles.

According to CEO Tim Sweeney, Apple has erected numerous complex barriers to maintain its dominance. He accused Apple of imposing high "junk fees," making it financially unviable to operate an alternative app store.

In addition, Epic claims that Apple is using stringent reporting requirements and "alarming" security warnings when users attempt to install apps from external sources to discourage users and developers.

Apple's response

For its part, Apple defends its policies as necessary to ensure user privacy, safety, and security. The company argues that its review processes and security alerts help protect users from malware and cybersecurity threats.

Apple also argues that the fees applied are reasonable, used to maintain and develop the iOS platform and ecosystem, and provide value to both developers and consumers. This legal and policy battle shows that changing the structure of the mobile app market is still a long and challenging road.