The Epic Games Store and Fortnite will return to iOS in Brazil starting in July 2025. This decision comes after the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region (TRF-1) ruled that Apple must allow third-party app stores within the App Store within 90 days. The measure reverses a previous decision by the Federal District Court, which had rejected the demands of the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), the body responsible for overseeing competition in the country.
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Judge Pablo Zuniga Dourado argued that preventing the presence of alternative marketplaces on iOS would create "artificial barriers" that unfairly favor Apple. In its defense, the tech giant claimed that the change could compromise user security and privacy. However, the court considered that the restriction imposed by the company limits competition and violates antitrust regulations.
With this, in addition to the Epic Games Store, games like Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys will be able to return to Apple's ecosystem in Brazil. The deadline set by the court obliges Apple to implement the change by July, ensuring that developers have the freedom to operate without the restrictions of the App Store.
The conflict between Apple and Epic Games began in 2020
The clash between Apple and Epic Games is not recent. The dispute began in 2020 when the Fortnite developer was removed from the App Store in the United States. The reason was Epic's attempt to circumvent the 30% fee charged by Apple on transactions made on iOS. To avoid this cost, the company created an alternative payment system, which led to its expulsion from the platform.
Since then, the legal battle has spread to several countries. In Europe, Epic Games has already secured the right to return to iOS after the approval of the Digital Markets Act, which requires greater openness in the app market. In Brazil, the TRF-1's decision represents a victory for Epic and could pave the way for similar changes in other markets.
Epic Games celebrated the court's decision and confirmed the return of Fortnite and the Epic Games Store to iOS in Brazil. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the company highlighted that the decision strengthens competition, thus giving consumers more options.
Apple, on the other hand, maintains its opposition to allowing third-party app stores. The company argues that the change could weaken the security of iOS, exposing users to malicious applications. Nevertheless, the court ruling compels the company to comply with the measure within the established timeframe.
With this turnaround, Brazil joins the European Union in relaxing the rules of the App Store. It remains to be seen how Apple will handle the new reality and whether other countries will follow suit. For gamers, the news represents the return of one of the world's most popular games to the Apple ecosystem, ending a long wait.