Epic Games Slams UK Digital Markets Regulation
Epic Games Criticizes UK Regulator’s Mobile App Market Decisions, Threatens to Withhold Fortnite’s Return
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Epic Games has voiced strong disappointment with the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), stating that the regulator’s recent roadmap decisions fail to open the mobile app ecosystem to genuine competition. In a pointed blog post, the company revealed that its plans to bring the Epic Games Store to iOS in the UK this year are now uncertain, and the return of fortnite to Apple’s platform in the region is also in jeopardy.
Missed Possibility for Competition
Epic Games expressed frustration that the CMA is not prioritizing the opening of the mobile ecosystem to option app stores in its roadmaps for Apple and Google. The company views this as a significant missed opportunity to introduce competition into what it describes as a “currently-monopolized market,” thereby stifling economic growth and consumer choice.
“We can’t bring the Epic games Store to iOS in the UK this year (if ever), and Fortnite’s return to iOS in the UK is now uncertain,” Epic stated in its blog post.”The CMA, the UK competition regulator, is choosing not to prioritize opening the mobile ecosystem to alternative app stores this year in the roadmaps for Apple and Google that were released today. This is a missed opportunity to introduce competition into a currently-monopolized market and unlock economic growth and consumer choice. Four years after concluding that the app Store and Google Play Store are parallel monopolies the CMA has done nothing to allow competing stores.”
The company drew a contrast between the UK’s approach and recent regulatory developments in Brazil and Japan. Epic claims these other regions will permit the return of Fortnite and the launch of the Epic Games Store “later this year,” highlighting a perceived disparity in regulatory action.
Concerns Over Anti-Steering Provisions
Epic Games also took aim at the CMA’s “vague announcement” regarding anti-steering provisions. The company criticized the lack of clarity and the potential for Apple and Google to implement restrictive measures, similar to those seen in Europe following the Digital Markets Act.
“The CMA also made a vague announcement about allowing developers to steer customers to payment service outside of apps, without referencing the kinds of restrictions, obstructions and junk fees that Apple introduced in Europe to make a mockery of the Digital Markets Act,” Epic explained. “Unless Apple and Google are completely blocked from imposing fees and discriminating against apps using out-of-app payment, we can expect years of malicious compliance ahead, and no genuine restoration of market competition.”
Epic pointed to the US court order as a benchmark for effective regulation, noting that it successfully prohibited such fees and obstructions, forcing Apple to allow “real payment competition.” this,Epic argued,has already benefited consumers and developers on platforms like Spotify,Amazon,Stripe,and Fortnite.
A Plea for Re-examination
Ultimately, Epic games is urging the CMA to reconsider its current roadmap decisions. The company warned that if the regulator does not re-examine these “weak roadmap decisions,” it may be forced to abandon plans to bring Fortnite back to iOS in the United Kingdom altogether. The future of Epic’s presence on Apple’s mobile platform in the UK now hinges on the CMA’s willingness to adopt a more robust approach to fostering competition.