The Epic Games Store and Fortnite will return to iOS in Brazil starting in July 2025. The decision comes after the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region (TRF-1) ordered Apple to allow third-party 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 agency responsible for monitoring competition in the country.
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Judge Pablo Zuniga Dourado argued that preventing alternative marketplaces from being available on iOS would create "artificial barriers" that unfairly favor Apple. In its defense, the tech giant argued that the change could compromise users' security and privacy. However, the court found that the restriction imposed by the company limits competition and violates antitrust rules.
With this, in addition to the Epic Games Store, games like Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys will be able to return to the Apple ecosystem in Brazil. The court-mandated deadline requires Apple to implement the change by July, ensuring developers have the freedom to operate without the App Store's restrictions.
Conflict between Apple and Epic Games began in 2020
The clash between Apple and Epic Games isn't new. 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 Apple charges on iOS transactions. To avoid this fee, the company created an alternative payment system, which led to its expulsion from the platform.
Since then, the legal battle has spread across several countries. In Europe, Epic Games has already secured the right to return to iOS after the Digital Markets Law was passed, which requires greater openness in the app market. In Brazil, the TRF-1 ruling 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 emphasized that the decision strengthens competition, thus giving consumers more options.
Apple, on the other hand, maintains its opposition to allowing third-party stores. The company claims the change could weaken iOS security, exposing users to malicious apps. Even so, the court ruling requires the company to comply with the measure within the established deadline.
With this turnaround, Brazil joins the European Union in relaxing App Store rules. It remains to be seen how Apple will handle this 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.
