Epic Games Launches Webshops to Bypass App Store Fees

Epic Games Store to Allow Developer Webshops Following Legal Victory

Epic Games is celebrating a significant legal achievement. Following a protracted dispute with Apple, the company has announced that developers utilizing the Epic Games Store will be permitted to establish their own webshops.

These webshops will enable players to make purchases directly, bypassing the standard fees imposed by both Apple and Google. This move directly addresses concerns over the high commission rates charged by major app stores.

The Apple Legal Battle

The core of this development stems from a lengthy legal confrontation between Epic and Apple regarding the 30% fee Apple levies on developer earnings within its iOS App Store.

In 2021, a court ruling determined that Apple could not prohibit developers from guiding customers to alternative purchasing channels for digital goods outside of the Apple ecosystem.

However, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers recently issued a strongly worded statement asserting that Apple was deliberately disregarding her 2021 decision. This finding paved the way for Epic’s latest announcement.

Fortnite's Return to iOS

As a direct result, Epic is reinstating its popular game, Fortnite, to the iOS App Store.

The company intends to encourage players to acquire Fortnite’s in-game items directly through Epic, offering more favorable pricing as an incentive.

Benefits for Developers

The new webshops feature within the Epic Games Store will simplify the process for other developers to implement similar strategies.

Currently, Epic retains a 12% share of developer revenue generated through its store, a more competitive rate than Apple’s 30%.

Furthermore, starting in June, Epic will waive its revenue share on the first $1 million in annual earnings for each game. A commission will only be applied to revenue exceeding this threshold.

Expanding Player Choice

“With recent legal decisions established, developers will have the capability to direct players to webshops for digital purchases on platforms that permit it,” Epic stated.

“This includes iOS within both the European Union and the United States.”

This change aims to provide players with greater flexibility and potentially lower prices when purchasing digital content.