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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Yes, Apple cleared Epic’s alternative marketplace for distribution on Apple devices in the European Union—but it did not approve the Epic Games Store as an ordinary App Store app. In early July 2024, Apple accepted Epic’s notarization submission. Epic then launched its mobile store on August 16, 2024, initially bringing it to iPhone users in the EU alongside an Android launch worldwide.
The distinction matters: notarization is Apple’s security and integrity review for software distributed outside the App Store. It is not the same as App Store approval, and access remains limited by territory, device, operating-system version and Apple’s EU installation rules.
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What Apple actually approved
Apple accepted Epic’s notarization submission for its planned EU alternative app marketplace. That cleared a technical and regulatory hurdle, but the Epic Games Store was not added to Apple’s App Store.
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Apple’s EU rules also show installation warnings and require user permission before an alternative marketplace can install software. Apple retains the ability to block an app later if it determines that the app contains malware. Apple’s DMA documentation explains the difference between App Store review, notarization and alternative marketplace distribution.
Why the EU made the launch possible
The European Union’s Digital Markets Act requires designated gatekeepers to support alternative forms of app distribution under specified conditions. On September 5, 2023, the European Commission designated Apple’s App Store, iOS and Safari as core platform services subject to the DMA. On April 29, 2024, it also designated iPadOS as a gatekeeper service. Apple was given six months to comply with the relevant iPadOS obligations.
The law did not simply order Apple to approve every Epic submission. Instead, it required Apple to create a framework for alternative marketplaces, web distribution, notarization, user permissions and alternative payment arrangements. Apple continued to operate the authorization and security controls within that framework.
The European Commission’s iPadOS designation and Apple’s DMA overview provide the regulatory background.
Epic’s dispute with Apple
The notarization decision followed an earlier developer-account dispute. Epic said Apple approved its Swedish developer account for the EU version of the Epic Games Store and Fortnite, then terminated the account in February 2024. After regulatory scrutiny and public pressure, Apple reinstated the account on March 8.
In late June and early July, Epic said Apple rejected its Epic Games Store notarization submission. Epic attributed the dispute partly to the design and wording of interface elements such as the “Install” button and “In-app purchases” label. Those specific objections should be understood as Epic’s account of the review rather than an uncontested Apple finding. Apple accepted the submission in early July, allowing Epic to proceed.
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Epic documented the developer-account dispute in its March 2024 announcement.
When did the Epic Games Store launch on iPhone and iPad?
Epic announced the mobile launch on August 16, 2024. Its announcement specifically described availability on iPhone in the European Union, alongside worldwide Android availability. The launch catalog included Fortnite, Fall Guys and Rocket League Sideswipe.
That announcement should not be read as proof that iPhone and iPad had identical availability on day one. The iPad reference belongs to the broader EU alternative-distribution story, particularly after iPadOS became subject to the DMA. Epic’s current documentation lists iPad support in the EU.
Epic also said it planned to distribute its games through other independent mobile stores, beginning with AltStore PAL in the EU, and intended to work with Aptoide’s iOS store and ONE Store on Android. Other PC games do not automatically become available on iPhone or iPad: each title still needs a compatible mobile build, controls and platform support.
Read Epic’s original launch announcement for the launch catalog and initial regional scope.
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Where is the Epic Games Store available now?
Epic’s current support documentation lists this availability:
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| Device | Supported territories |
|---|---|
| iPhone | European Union, Japan and Brazil |
| iPad | European Union only |
These are not worldwide Apple policy changes. An iPhone user in the United States, for example, does not gain a general right to install the Epic Games Store under the DMA. Epic’s current support page also says iPad support is not available in Japan or Brazil.
Do not treat a VPN, foreign Apple Account region or changed billing address as a supported workaround. Eligibility depends on Apple and Epic’s territory checks as well as the device and operating-system requirements.
Check Epic’s current country and device availability page before attempting installation.
How to install it
The exact screens vary by operating-system version, so Epic’s live instructions should take priority over older launch-day guides. The general process is:
- Use Safari on an eligible iPhone or iPad.
- Open Epic’s mobile download page and tap Install.
- Follow the operating-system-specific prompts.
- If prompted, open Settings and allow marketplace installation from Epic Games Inc.
- Return to Safari and confirm the installation, including the side-button confirmation where requested.
Epic’s current instructions provide separate flows for iOS/iPadOS 26.2 and later, iOS/iPadOS 18.6 and later, and older supported versions. Its documentation identifies iOS 17.6 or later for EU iPhone support and iPadOS 18 or later for EU iPad support, but requirements can change.
Use Epic’s current installation guide rather than relying on a 2024 version number.
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Common installation problems
- No Install button: Check territory, operating-system version and whether you are using Safari.
- Permission failure: Open Settings and approve marketplace installation from Epic, then return to the browser.
- Stalled installation: Retry the prompt, restart the device and clear Safari website data if necessary.
- Unsupported iPad: Japan and Brazil currently support the store on iPhone, not iPad.
- Existing copy of Fortnite: Apple says an app may be installed from only one distribution channel at a time. Switching channels can require deleting the existing copy and reinstalling it.
Epic’s troubleshooting guide covers current installation failures.
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Epic says installed apps may continue working for a limited period after a user leaves an eligible territory, but new installations and access to marketplace apps can be restricted. The applicable grace period depends on the current regional policy; Epic’s newer support documentation refers to up to 90 days for some situations, so older “30-day” advice should not be treated as universal.
Check Epic’s current regional-access guidance before travelling or changing residence.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What changes for developers and payments?
The Epic Games Store gives developers an alternative route to iPhone and iPad users instead of requiring exclusive distribution through Apple’s App Store. Epic said its planned mobile store would charge developers 12% on payments processed by Epic and 0% on third-party payments.
Those were Epic’s announced commercial terms, not a guarantee that every transaction has no other cost. Payment processing, taxes, refunds, Apple’s EU business terms, marketplace fees and other contractual conditions can affect the final economics. Apple’s alternative EU business terms are complex and have changed over time.
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For users, purchases made through Epic are not simply ordinary Apple App Store transactions. Support, refunds, account issues and payment disputes may involve Epic or another payment provider rather than Apple.
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Is this unrestricted sideloading?
No. The EU system is better described as regulated alternative app distribution.
Marketplaces must meet Apple’s authorization requirements, apps undergo notarization, and users receive installation sheets and warnings. Apple says notarization is more limited than App Store review: it is intended to provide a baseline assessment of security and platform integrity, not the full range of App Store checks.
Alternative distribution may increase choice and competition, but Apple warns of additional risks involving malware, fraud, scams, privacy, harmful content and piracy. The marketplace’s own policies and customer support therefore matter more than they would in a single-store model.
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Why the approval mattered
The important development was not merely that Fortnite returned to some iPhones. Apple’s acceptance of Epic’s notarization submission demonstrated that a major rival could use the EU’s new marketplace framework to reach Apple-device users without listing its store in the App Store.
That creates a direct challenge to Apple’s single-store model and gives developers another distribution and payment route. It also makes installation, updates, support, security review and regional eligibility more complicated for users. The result is more choice—but not unrestricted sideloading and not a worldwide change to iPhone software distribution.
