Will Fortnite Return to iOS in the UK? Epic Games Calls Out Apple’s 'Weak' Regulations
Fortnite fans in the UK may have to wait much longer to see the popular battle royale game back on iPhones. Fortnite’s return to iOS in the UK is now uncertain, following a scathing blog post by Epic Games criticizing the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and its approach to regulating Apple. While the CMA intends to grant Apple and Google "strategic market status" under new digital competition laws, Epic argues the measures don’t go far enough. The company is particularly frustrated that the CMA isn’t focusing on forcing Apple to allow sideloading or alternative app stores on iOS—a move Epic sees as essential to fostering a fair digital marketplace.
Instead, the CMA is targeting Apple's anti-steering rules and app review practices, which Epic believes only scratches the surface of the broader control Apple holds over app distribution. Without meaningful changes, Epic says launching the Epic Games Store and Fortnite on iOS in the UK may not happen anytime soon. Let’s break down what’s happening, what Epic wants, and how it could affect Fortnite players and the wider mobile app ecosystem.
Why Epic Games Is Criticizing Apple's App Store Regulations in the UK
Epic Games has long been at odds with Apple, notably since Fortnite was removed from the App Store in 2020 for implementing its own in-app payment system. This time, the conflict has resurfaced in the UK. Epic is calling out the CMA for what it describes as a "narrow" focus on anti-steering rules and app moderation rather than addressing the core issue—Apple’s refusal to support alternative app stores or sideloading. Without that, Fortnite’s return to iOS in the UK remains blocked by what Epic sees as an anti-competitive walled garden.
In its blog post, Epic argues that a truly competitive app market depends on multiple app stores, not just one controlled by Apple. The company claims that without real competition, Apple will continue to impose "junk fees" and unfair restrictions. It draws parallels to Apple’s behavior in the EU under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), accusing the tech giant of "malicious compliance" by technically following the law but still creating hurdles for developers. If UK regulators take the same limited approach, Epic warns, the situation for both developers and consumers will remain unchanged.
What the CMA’s Digital Competition Laws Aim to Change—and What’s Missing
The UK’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill is designed to rein in the dominance of tech giants like Apple and Google. Once the CMA designates them with strategic market status, it gains new powers to enforce changes in their platforms. However, the CMA’s current direction has focused primarily on preventing self-preferencing, improving transparency in app reviews, and relaxing anti-steering rules. These are certainly steps in the right direction, but to Epic Games, they fall short of tackling the most important barrier to Fortnite's iOS return in the UK—Apple’s control over app distribution.
Epic’s core demand is the allowance of third-party app stores on iOS. This would enable Epic to launch its own Epic Games Store and bring Fortnite back under its own terms. The company believes that unless developers can compete on equal footing without facing high Apple-imposed fees or restrictions, the market won’t truly be free. Epic also emphasizes that consumers deserve choice—not just in apps, but in how and where they access them. As it stands, Apple’s policies prevent that kind of freedom, despite the UK’s apparent push for more digital competition.
What This Means for Fortnite Players and the Future of Mobile App Stores
For now, Fortnite fans in the UK waiting for the game's return to iOS will likely be disappointed. Without clear regulatory enforcement requiring Apple to open its platform to alternative app stores, Epic is standing firm in its position not to return under the current rules. This impasse reflects a broader struggle playing out across global markets, where regulators are trying to keep up with the complexities of modern digital ecosystems—and tech giants are doing everything they can to maintain control.
The outcome of this standoff will have ripple effects far beyond just Fortnite. If the CMA sticks to its limited scope, it could set a precedent for other countries that hope to regulate Big Tech. Conversely, if the UK adopts a bolder approach and mandates true platform openness, it could become a model for fairer app distribution. Either way, this situation underscores why competition, developer rights, and consumer choice must remain at the center of any regulatory framework. Whether or not Fortnite returns to iOS in the UK soon, this battle over the future of mobile platforms is far from over.
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