The Epic Games Store is now available on iPhone in Japan with both Fortnite and Rocket League Sideswipe.
Thanks to Japan’s newly enacted law, the Mobile Software Competition Act, Epic Games is able to launch the store with its own games to start, and it continues to work with regulators to enforce the law and eliminate Apple’s “scare screens and fees that undermine competition and choice,” Epic Games said in a statement. The act requires Apple to open up its iPhones to competitive app stores.
Players can download the store today to play Fortnite and Rocket League Sideswipe. Epic needs this kind of legal win, as it recently laid off 1,000 employees because of a decline in Fortnite’s popularity.
Epic said it’s a great time to jump into the new Battle Royale Season with Fortnite Showdown. Join either Team Foundation or Team Ice King, lead your team to victory, and unlock new weapons, items, and rewards throughout the season. Or play one of the more than 345,000 games made by developers in Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) — from boxfights to horror and tycoon games.
When you download Fortnite on any mobile device and invite a friend to play, you’ll earn the new Yeddy Outfit.
How to Download the Epic Games Store
You can download the Epic Games Store mobile app directly from Epic here and you can find an instructional video here. During the install process, you’ll be taken to your device settings where you’ll need to select “Allow Apps from Epic Games Inc” to proceed.
The Epic Games Store is also available on Android devices and PC’s worldwide. You can also use the Epic Games Store app to text chat with friends across the Epic ecosystem and set up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your Epic account.
Epic Games Store launches on iPhones in Japan despite Apple’s alleged non-compliance
The announcement comes after the Japanese government passed the Mobile Software Competition Act, requiring Apple to open up iOS devices to third party app stores.
Players can download the Epic Games Store directly from Epic’s website by following the instructions here.
“Apple continues to intentionally make it hard for third party app stores to compete with the App Store on iPhones and is blocking third party stores on iPads. We urge the Japan Fair Trade Commission to rigorously enforce the law and prohibit Apple from imposing illegal fees and friction that harm consumers and competition,” Epic Games said.
We have asked Apple for comment.
Onerous Fees for Apps Downloaded Outside the App Store
Apple charges a Core Technology Commission of 5% on any purchase made in apps that are downloaded from third party stores. Apple also requires developers to track and report all transactions, even those that are not completed. This creates confusion and costs that deter developers from launching on competing app stores. As a result, we are not launching with apps from other developers on the Store.
9-Step Install Flow Creates More Friction for Japanese Consumers
When the company launched the Epic Games Store in Europe, Apple required a 15-step installation process, Epic said. After pressure from regulators, Apple reduced that to six screens which led to a 60% decrease in player drop-off during attempts to install the Epic Game Store. However, in Japan, Apple is imposing three additional screens on developers and consumers, creating more hurdles for competition and choice.
“We are continuing to work with regulators in Japan to end these anticompetitive practices so developers and consumers can benefit from the law,” Epic Games said.
The Epic Games Store is available on Android devices globally and on iOS devices in the EU and Epic said it will bring it to Brazil in June.
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* This article was originally published here
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