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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Apple terminated Epic Games Sweden AB’s developer account on March 2, 2024, and reinstated it six days later after discussions with the European Commission. The Commission had sought information from both companies as the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) obligations took effect. That episode was resolved quickly; it was not a continuing standalone EU case. The larger dispute over Apple’s rules and fees for alternative app distribution continued in separate DMA proceedings.
What Apple terminated—and why Epic needed the account
The account belonged to Epic Games Sweden AB, not an undifferentiated global Epic entity. Epic said it had obtained the developer account through Apple’s official process to build and distribute the Epic Games Store for iPhone users in the EU. The store was intended to offer an alternative to Apple’s App Store and bring Fortnite back to EU iPhones.
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Epic said Apple’s lawyers terminated the account on March 2, 2024, citing Epic’s past and current conduct and describing the Swedish company as untrustworthy or a threat to Apple’s ecosystem. Epic disputed that rationale and said it had communicated its plans and assured Apple it would comply with its developer-agreement obligations. Apple’s position, reported at the time, was that Epic’s conduct justified denying the account. These are the companies’ competing accounts, not a Commission finding. Epic’s account of the termination and reinstatement and contemporary Associated Press coverage describe the dispute.
Why the Commission stepped in
The DMA’s obligations for designated gatekeepers began applying on March 7, 2024. Apple is designated for relevant core platform services including the App Store and iOS. The law requires gatekeepers to meet obligations intended to make digital markets more contestable, including rules relevant to alternative app distribution. The Commission’s March 7 announcement set out the compliance date.
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- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
On March 7, the Commission said it was seeking information from Apple and Epic about the account termination and assessing the situation under the DMA. That was fact-finding and scrutiny—not a final decision that Apple had broken the law in this specific incident. In regulatory terms, a request for information is distinct from a formal non-compliance investigation, preliminary findings, and a final infringement decision.
The account was reinstated, but there was no final ruling
On March 8, Epic said Apple had committed to reinstate the account following discussions with the Commission. Apple said Epic Sweden could re-sign the developer agreement and rejoin the Apple Developer Program after committing to follow Apple’s rules, including its DMA policies. The account’s return was the immediate practical outcome; the available announcements do not establish a standalone Commission ruling that the termination itself was unlawful or a formal order compelling reinstatement. The Associated Press reported on the reversal.
Rank #2
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
The reversal mattered because it allowed Epic to proceed while the DMA was newly taking effect. It was not, by itself, proof that Epic had won a legal case on the merits. Nor should the episode be confused with Epic’s separate US litigation against Apple: the EU account dispute involved a Swedish Epic entity and the DMA, with different parties, legal grounds, and procedures.
Epic’s alternative store arrived in the EU
On August 16, 2024, Epic announced that its Games Store was available for download on iPhones in the EU, initially offering Fortnite, Fall Guys, and Rocket League Sideswipe. Epic also announced distribution through independent mobile stores, including AltStore PAL. The launch shows the account termination did not permanently prevent Epic’s EU marketplace from opening. Epic’s launch announcement limited iPhone availability to the EU; it did not make the store available worldwide on iOS.
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Rank #3
- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
- Redemption: Online
For EU users, the central question was broader than whether Fortnite could return: could iPhone owners obtain apps through marketplaces other than Apple’s, and could developers reach those users without relying exclusively on the App Store? The DMA opened a route to alternative distribution, but that route operates within Apple’s technical and contractual framework. Apple documents marketplace authorization, notarization, security processes, and related requirements in its EU developer-distribution guidance.
The broader EU case concerned Apple’s rules and fees
The Commission’s later proceedings addressed Apple’s wider App Store model, not simply the March account decision. Keeping those actions distinct matters: the account episode prompted rapid scrutiny and a reversal, while subsequent procedures examined whether Apple’s terms complied with the DMA.
Rank #4
- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
| Date | Commission action | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| March 25, 2024 | The Commission opened non-compliance investigations into Apple’s App Store steering rules and began investigatory steps concerning fees for alternative app stores, including the Core Technology Fee. | Formal proceedings on broader platform rules and fees, separate from the account reinstatement. Commission announcement. |
| June 24, 2024 | The Commission issued preliminary findings that Apple’s App Store rules prevented developers from freely steering consumers to other purchasing channels. It also opened an additional procedure concerning contractual requirements for third-party developers and app stores. | Preliminary findings are not the same as a final decision. Commission announcement. |
| April 23, 2025 | The Commission announced preliminary findings that Apple’s contractual terms for alternative app distribution breached the DMA, while closing a separate investigation into certain user-choice obligations. | This later action concerned alternative-distribution terms, not a published standalone finding on Epic’s account termination. Commission announcement. |
Why alternative distribution remains a trade-off for developers
Permission to distribute outside the App Store does not mean distribution is unrestricted or fee-free. Apple’s EU terms include commissions, possible payment-processing charges, the Core Technology Fee in qualifying circumstances, and operational requirements. The exact cost depends on the applicable terms and a developer’s situation; the figures below describe Apple’s published EU fee models, not a universal charge on every app.
- Commission: Apple documents a 10% or 17% commission under relevant EU alternative terms, depending on the developer and transaction circumstances.
- Payment processing: A 3% fee may apply when Apple’s payment processing is used.
- Core Technology Fee: Under the applicable model, a €0.50 fee applies to qualifying first annual installs above the relevant threshold. Apple says developers on the alternative terms receive one million first annual installs per year per app without this fee, subject to the rules; alternative marketplace operators are treated differently and may owe it from the first marketplace install.
- Compliance and operations: Marketplace authorization, notarization, security, reporting, and contractual obligations remain part of the distribution framework.
These conditions shape whether an alternative store is commercially viable, not just whether it is legally possible. Epic has argued that Apple’s fees and restrictions discourage competing distribution. Apple says its terms reflect the value of its tools, technologies, and platform services. Developers should compare the full cost and operational burden of each route rather than assume that leaving the App Store automatically saves money. Apple’s current published details are in its EU commissions, fees, and taxes documentation and its Core Technology Fee overview.
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- An Epic Games account is required to redeem an Epic Games Store Card code
- If playing on a console platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch or Mobile) you need to link your Epic Games account to that gaming platform (one time) to redeem your gift card code
- The 16 digit code on the back of the card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly through your gaming platform (PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, etc.)
- Note: Nintendo devices do not support Fortnite Shared Wallet, so V-Bucks purchased using your account balance will not show up on your Nintendo device. However, if you purchase items in the web Item Shop — or another platform where you play Fortnite — those items will be available in your Locker across all platforms.
- Redemption: Online
What the episode means now
Apple’s March 2024 termination of Epic Games Sweden’s developer account triggered swift Commission scrutiny, and the account was reinstated days later. Epic then launched its store on iPhone in the EU. The episode was an early practical test of the DMA, not a final EU verdict against Apple; the continuing regulatory fight moved into broader proceedings over steering, alternative marketplaces, and their contractual and fee terms.
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