The Epic Games Store began making its store available for iOS devices in Brazil this Thursday, July 30th. This launch was made possible after an agreement established between Apple and the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (Cade), which allowed for alternative stores within the Brazilian iOS ecosystem.
With this arrival, Brazil becomes the third nation to receive the alternative iOS store, joining the European Union and Japan. This debut ends a period of over five years during which the developer's titles were unavailable on the brand's smartphones. iPhone users running iOS version 26.5 or later can access the company's website to download the store and resume access to games like Fortnite.
To encourage the return of the public, Epic implemented benefits, the main one being cashback, which reimburses 20% of purchase value through Epic Rewards. It is important to note that Apple's previous rules prevented this loyalty program from functioning in the official store.
However, there is a restriction: the Epic Games Store in Brazil is exclusively available for iPhones, unlike what happened in Europe, where the Digital Markets Act (DMA) also guaranteed openness for iPadOS.
In a press conference, the company's CEO, Tim Sweeney, detailed that users face an installation process composed of nine distinct steps, requiring confirmation of download intent on at least four occasions. According to the executive, this high friction results in a near 50% dropout rate among those interested in installing the store.
To support his criticism, the owner of Fortnite used the European history as an example. Under pressure from regulatory bodies, Apple was compelled to simplify the installation flow to only six steps, which managed to decrease the user abandonment rate by 60%. Furthermore, the agreement made with Cade allows Apple to maintain the collection of commissions on digital sales, even when applications are distributed outside the App Store. Currently, Apple charges a 5% fee on purchases made in the Epic store.
Sweeney considers this charge unfair, alleging that the developer is forced to give away part of the profit to a corporation not directly related to the transaction. Dissatisfied with the retained percentage, Epic has indicated it will appeal to Cade to try and annul this fee.
For its part, Apple refutes the allegations made. In press releases sent to the media, the iPhone manufacturer classified Sweeney's statements about the installation procedure and commission rates as 'false'. The company stated that the recent modifications implemented in Brazil provide new distribution channels for developers, with reduced fees.
A spokesperson emphasized that the download steps are essential functionalities. The purpose of these multiple alerts is to safeguard data privacy, protect devices against third-party fraud, and ensure child safety in the virtual environment.
Fortnite can be obtained on iPhone or iPad devices using the Epic Games Store. This possibility arose after a decision by CADE (Administrative Council for Economic Defense), which forced Apple to allow third-party app stores within the iOS environment.
To start downloading Fortnite on iPhone, you must first install the Epic Games store. The detailed process follows these steps:
First, you must access the Epic Games website at store.epicgames.com/download/ios and select the 'Install' option to activate the installation of the alternative store on iOS. When the system displays a warning about the third-party store, the user must tap 'Settings'.
Next, within iOS Settings, you need to navigate to 'Manage App Installation' and subsequently press 'Allow' next to the Epic Games Store, repeating the 'Allow' confirmation. An additional verification requires pressing the side button twice.
After configuring the permissions, the user must open the Epic Games Store and click on 'Getting Started' to begin the access procedure. It is essential to log in using the same account linked to Fortnite.
Once logged in, simply select 'Install' on the Fortnite card and confirm the desire to download the game by clicking 'Install app'. Once again, a final authentication will be required by pressing the side button twice. After this process is complete, Fortnite will be downloaded and appear on the iPhone home screen, simulating an installation made through the App Store.
The Epic Games Store has the functionality to automatically update games and applications by default. Thus, any Fortnite update will be performed in the background by the store, following the same mechanism used by apps downloaded from the App Store.
It is possible to uninstall the Epic Games store after installing Fortnite, but doing so will prevent the game from receiving updates, as it was acquired through this store. For this reason, it is recommended to keep the application installed or only remove it from the home screen.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
