Epic’s Tim Sweeney calls Apple App Store changes ‘hot trash’ -Gudstory

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has a lot to say about the changes Apple made to its App Store in the EU. In a long post on x (formerly Twitter), Sweeney called the update “a new example of malicious compliance” — or, in layman’s terms, “hot garbage.”

This afternoon, Apple announced that it will allow sideloading, alternative app stores, and third-party browser engines on the iPhone with the rollout of iOS 17.4 this March. The company will also open up the App Store to game streaming services and eventually allow developers to use alternative in-app payment options. Apple made the changes to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires big tech companies to follow a strict set of rules aimed at encouraging competition in the mobile app market and other areas.

Epic, which operates the game as well as the Epic Games Store Fortnite, has been one of the companies calling most loudly for these types of changes. This led to a long-running legal battle against Apple’s “walled garden” approach to the App Store in the US.

However, Sweeney doesn’t think Apple’s planned changes are fair to developers. They claim Apple is forcing them to choose between “App Store exclusivity and store terms, which would be illegal under the DMA, or a new-illegal competition with new junk fees on downloads and new Apple taxes on payments.” -Forcing the enemy to accept the plan.” t process.” Sweeney is likely referring to the new €0.50 (about 54 cents) Core Technology fee that Apple will charge for each annual install for apps downloaded more than 1 million times in the EU.

Sweeney also objects to the fact that Apple can “choose which stores are allowed to compete with their App Store.” He says that Apple can technically prevent Epic from launching its own storefront and the same applies to Microsoft, Valve, Good Old Games and others. Nevertheless, Sweeney says his goal is to launch the Epic Games Store on iOS and Android and become the “#1 multi-platform software store.” Payouts depending on contests, 0%-12% fees, and exclusive games like Fortnite.”

We’re bound to see more developers react to Apple’s new rule changes in the coming days. For example, Spotify has already said it will launch an in-app payment system in the EU once the DMA takes effect. Both Epic and Spotify are some of Apple’s most vocal critics, with both companies hitting back at Apple for imposing a 27 percent tax on purchases made outside the App Store in the US.

Sweeney will certainly have a lot more to say about Apple’s EU policies, too, and it sounds like he’s just getting started. “There’s a lot of nonsense in Apple’s announcement,” he says. “It’s going to take more time to parse both the written and unwritten parts of this new horror show, so stay tuned.”