Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has criticized Apple over the approval process for the iOS app it’s developing for Europe.
On X (Twitter), Sweeney said Apple “unrejected” Epic’s app after two rejections over concerns that the companies’ respective ‘Install’ and ‘In-app purchases’ labels are too similar. However, in a subsequent X post, Sweeney said Apple’s approval was only “temporary,” with the iPhone maker supposedly now demanding that Epic “change the buttons in the next version” of its app. Sweeney concluded by saying that Epic will “fight” Apple’s latest ruling.
Apple’s DMA saga has taken a turn towards the absurd.
Apple is now telling reporters that this approval is temporary and are demanding we change the buttons in the next version – which would make our store less standard and harder to use.
We’ll fight this. https://t.co/obwRoU7dWo
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) July 5, 2024
He argues this “would make our store less standard and harder to use.” On July 5th, Epic said in an official X post that its ‘Install’ and ‘In-app purchases’ are using the same conventions for names and labels as other iOS apps. “We’re just trying to build a store that mobile users can easily understand, and the disclosure of in-app purchases is a regulatory best practice followed by all stores nowadays,” argued Epic.
This followed changes to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) earlier this year, which required Apple to allow third-party marketplaces on the App Store. Following that announcement, Epic unveiled plans to launch its own app store on both iOS and Android later in 2024.
Last week, the Fortnite maker reiterated plans to launch the storefront later this year, “barring further roadblocks from Apple.”
Image credit: Epic Games
Source: Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic)
MobileSyrup may earn a commission from purchases made via our links, which helps fund the journalism we provide free on our website. These links do not influence our editorial content. Support us here.
