(Photo by Arda Kucukkaya/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Facing pressure from European regulators, Apple is once again restoring Epic Games’ iOS developer account, only days after it rescinded the access.
The decision paves the way for Epic Games to operate a competing third-party iOS app store in the European Union. “We are moving forward as planned to launch the Epic Games Store and bring Fortnite back to iOS in Europe,” the company said in response.
Apple initially terminated the developer account, citing concerns that Epic Games would try to violate the company’s new iOS rules for the EU. As evidence, Cupertino cited tweets from Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney that were critical of Apple’s policy to comply with EU’s Digital Markets Act.
But in a statement on Friday, Apple told PCMag: “Following conversations with Epic, they have committed to follow the rules, including our DMA policies. As a result, Epic Sweden AB has been permitted to re-sign the developer agreement and accepted into the Apple Developer Program."
However, Sweeney is crediting the change to EU regulators enforcing the Digital Markets Act, which requires gate-keeper companies such as Apple to open up their platforms. “A big win for European rule of law, for the European Commission, and for the freedom of developers worldwide to speak up,” Sweeney said in a tweet.
Indeed, the European Commission moved immediately to ask Apple why it had terminated Epic Games’ developer account. The Commission also told PCMag that any account terminations had to be "proportionate and in due regard to fundamental rights,” while giving the developer advance notice of the action.
European Commissioner Thierry Breton has since tweeted: “I take note with satisfaction that following our contacts Apple decided to backtrack its decision on Epic exclusion.”