Epic Games made the Epic Games Store available for iPhone devices in Brazil this Thursday, the 30th. With this launch, users can directly download the platform and install titles such as Fortnite and Rocket League Sideswipe on Apple devices. The introduction of this store also establishes a new rewards system for purchases made outside the App Store environment.
Criticism of Apple's Policies
Alongside the launch, the company resumed its criticism of the guidelines implemented by Apple for application distribution on the iOS system. According to the developer, the restrictions imposed on installing alternative stores and the fees charged harm competition and limit consumer choices.
The company stated that it has already communicated these concerns to the Brazilian body responsible for competition defense. Epic alleges that Apple's actions complicate the functioning of independent virtual markets and increase operational costs for developers.
Benefits and Game Availability
With the arrival of the Epic Games Store on iPhone in Brazil, users gain direct access to Fortnite and Rocket League Sideswipe, without solely depending on the App Store. Furthermore, the company informed that purchases made in Fortnite through its own store grant a 20% return in Epic Rewards, a benefit that, according to Epic, is not possible to obtain from the official Apple store due to current regulations in the country.
The developer highlighted that Fortnite is available on the new platform with the season titled 'No Corre', and the game also offers a collection of experiences created by producers using the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN). Meanwhile, Rocket League Sideswipe expands the variety of games accessible in the store for iOS devices.
Installation Process and International Comparison
To install the Epic Games Store, the user needs to visit the company's website and follow a procedure that involves authorizing the installation of the Epic app store in their device settings. The company provided a video detailing this process.
Parallel to the launch, Epic intensified its criticism of Apple's model that allows third-party stores in Brazil. The company argues that the installation flow requires nine steps, which would be a structure designed to discourage the use of competing platforms. In contrast, Epic mentioned that in the European Union, this process was reduced from fifteen to six steps after regulatory intervention, resulting in a 60% decrease in user abandonment during the Epic Games Store installation. However, the company assesses that the requirements in Brazil remain more severe.
Financial Requirements and Future Strategies
Epic also maintains that Apple charges fees related to application distribution in alternative stores and forces developers to report all transactions, even incomplete ones. According to the company, such demands imply sharing commercial data and increase the technical effort required to comply with established rules.
The company stated that its initial strategy will consist of offering only its own games while adjusting its infrastructure to meet the requested requirements. Epic advocates that governments and regulatory bodies should implement measures aimed at promoting greater competition in the mobile application ecosystem.
