A Long-Awaited Return
Epic Games is bringing Fortnite back to iPhones in the United Kingdom. This move follows the passage of the UK’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act, which became law earlier this year. The gaming giant plans to launch both its flagship battle royale game and its own mobile software marketplace, the Epic Games Store, on iOS devices in 2025.
It has been a long time coming. Apple kicked Fortnite off the App Store worldwide in 2020 after Epic bypassed Apple’s 30% payment commission. Since then, British iPhone users have had to rely on cloud streaming services to play. That is about to change.
How the DMCC Act Changes the Game
The DMCC Act gives the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) the power to designate tech giants like Apple and Google as having “Strategic Market Status.” Once designated, these companies must open up their platforms to competitors. For Apple, this means allowing third-party app stores and alternative payment systems, much like the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) forced it to do in Europe.
Epic Games wasted no time celebrating the legislative shift. The company quickly confirmed its UK expansion plans on social media. “We plan to bring the Epic Games Store and Fortnite to iOS in the UK in the second half of 2025,” Epic stated. The developer thanked the UK government for passing the law, calling it a major win for consumer choice.
The European Precedent
This is not Epic’s first regulatory battle, nor is it the first one they have won. Earlier this year, Epic launched its store on iOS in the European Union. That release was made possible by the EU’s DMA, which legally mandated Apple to allow sideloading and alternative marketplaces.
The EU launch was not entirely smooth sailing. Apple introduced new fees, including a “Core Technology Fee” of €0.50 per annual install for popular apps, which Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney heavily criticized. How Apple will structure its terms under the UK’s new rules remains to be seen, but the CMA will have broad powers to police unfair fees or roadblocks.
What This Means for British Gamers
When the Epic Games Store arrives on British iPhones in late 2025, players will be able to download Fortnite directly to their devices again. They will get native performance without the lag of cloud gaming. It also opens the door for other developers to distribute their games on iOS without paying Apple’s high fees.
For years, Apple argued that keeping its ecosystem closed was necessary for user security and privacy. Epic and other critics countered that it was simply a monopoly designed to protect App Store revenues. With the UK now joining the EU in forcing Apple’s hand, the walled garden is crumbling faster than ever.
