Apple has loosened its App Store restrictions to permit more emulation software.
20.03.2024 - 19:41 / gamerant.com / Steve Allison / John DiCarlo / Ios
Epic Games has announced that the Epic Games Store is coming to iOS and Android devices later this year. The Epic Games Store's mobile expansion will allow the storefront to function across all major, non-console platforms.
The Epic Games Store was launched in 2018 as a competitor to Steam, with its reduced revenue cut being one of the main selling points for developers. Epic also attempted to attract studios by cutting its 5% Unreal Engine royalty for any revenue generated from the Epic Games Store by games using the state-of-the-art engine. As for attracting regular users, the Epic Games Store offers free games every week, with games like Deus Ex: Mankind Divided and The Bridge currently being free to claim. It seems that Epic has plenty more in mind for the future of its growing storefront.
At Epic's State of Unreal presentation, EGS General Manager Steve Allison announced the storefront's mobile release set for later this year. He further detailed that the approaching launch will make the EGS the first game-focused, multiplatform store to be released across Android, iOS, PC, and Mac. As most probably assumed, using the store across the different platforms will be anchored by a user's Epic account. Allison also revealed that multiple third-party partners have expressed interest in joining the launch of the EGS' mobile release, but did not specify what companies these are. Additionally, the 2024 launch will be accompanied by new self-publishing tools that make it easier for mobile developers to release their apps. Epic plans to reveal more about the future of its Epic Games Store very soon.
The announcement comes after Epic went through legal battles with Apple and Google over their practices with the App Store and Google Play Store. Epic's fight with Apple resulted in the iPhone creator being cleared of claims that it was a monopoly engaging in antitrust behavior, but was found to be enforcing anticompetitive rules that resulted in some slight changes.
Epic's legal spat with Google over mobile store practices went much better for the Fortnite creator. A jury decided that Google had violated anti-trust laws in its efforts to position the Play Store as Android's primary storefront. Epic's future mobile store will likely help the company avoid the regulations imposed by the two tech giants in their respective storefronts.
In recent months, Epic announced more major mobile news.Fortnite was set to return to European Union mobile devices later this year. However, recent developments between Apple and Epic may delay this release.
Apple has loosened its App Store restrictions to permit more emulation software.
Apple has lifted its restriction on retro game emulators on the iOS App Store.
Next week’s free Epic Games Store title has been announced.
The Epic Games Store recently saw the addition of several older games from EA, including multiple entries from the Need for Speed and Battlefield franchises. Standing as one of the most popular online marketplaces for games, Epic Games has often looked for ways to help its storefront stand out from major competitors like Steam. Epic Games regularly features free games for users to claim through the storefront, often giving away popular games like The Outer Worlds and Fallout: New Vegas. Now, the storefront has added multiple EA games to its lineup.
Next week’s free Epic Games Store titles have been confirmed.
Every Thursday at 10 am CT, the Epic Games Store rotates its free game selection and confirms what will be coming the next week. This means Epic Games Store users can no longer claim Call of the Wild: The Angler or Invincible Presents: Atom Eve, but they can claim Islets until April 4. At that time, Islets will rotate out of EGS and the service will add The Outer Worlds and Thief, two big pick-ups for the service.
Next week’s free Epic Games Store title has seemingly leaked ahead of an official announcement on Thursday.
Microsoft is embarking on an interesting multiplatform strategy these days, with its previously exclusive first-party titles like Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment available on PS5 and Nintendo Switch. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has said that the industry shouldn’t rule out any title on other platforms, but he’s also interested in extending that philosophy to other storefronts.
Xbox boss Phil Spencer says he’d like to see other digital storefronts appearing on Xbox consoles in the future.
Next week’s free Epic Games Store title has been confirmed.
Epic Games affirmed its commitment to bringing the Epic Games Store to iOS and Android before the end of 2024 during its State of Unreal presentation at GDC 2024.
Don't Nod Entertainment's 2023 climbing adventure game Jusant has made its way onto the Epic Games Store. One of last year's more unique titles, Jusant launched day one onto Xbox Game Pass in October, as well as on PlayStation 5 and Steam, initially skipping an Epic Games Store release.