Epic Games Store and Fortnite Arrive on EU iPhones
Epic Games Store and Fortnite are now installable on iPhones in the EU, thanks to new regulations forcing Apple to allow third‑party app marketplaces. Commenters weigh the value of this “small step for digital freedom” against concerns over Epic’s own predatory monetization, Apple’s hostile and confusing UX around alternative stores, and the broader question of how much protection App Store review really provides. The change also renews hopes for more capable browsers and ad blockers on iOS, while highlighting how tightly Apple still controls platform features by region.
App installation UX and Apple’s “malicious compliance”
- Many focus on how clunky Epic Store installation is on EU iPhones: Safari shows a scare-style prompt, but doesn’t deep-link into Settings, forcing users to manually find the toggle.
- Some note this is “consistent” with other Apple flows (provisioning profiles, notifications), others argue the experience is deliberately worse to discourage third‑party stores.
- Android is cited as a cautionary example: easier permission flows led to more malware and social‑engineering scams; recent Android changes now also require manual settings navigation for sensitive permissions.
- Debate centers on whether friction is justified for security or mainly to protect Apple’s business model. Several call this “malicious compliance” with EU rules.
Security, data access, and Epic’s trustworthiness
- Apps from Epic’s store are still iOS apps in the same sandbox, notarized by Apple, so they shouldn’t gain extra technical powers vs App Store apps.
- Others counter that the sandbox doesn’t stop all abuses (e.g., private APIs, Objective‑C tricks), and that Apple’s review process is one of the few checks.
- Meta/Facebook is used as an example of abusing iOS facilities (keychain persistence) to track users across installs; some question GDPR legality.
- Epic’s past fines for child‑targeted dark patterns are mentioned; posters stress Epic isn’t “the good guys,” just temporarily aligned with user interests against Apple.
Mac and broader gaming ecosystem
- Several doubt that serious gaming will “come back” to macOS, citing low Steam share vs Linux and limited incentives to port games.
- Metal‑only strategy and ARM‑only hardware are seen as major barriers; MoltenVK helps Vulkan titles but still requires separate Mac builds.
- Some praise Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit and third‑party tools like Whisky, but note it’s far from Proton‑like “just works” support.
iOS choice, lock‑in, and alternatives
- Some are excited to install Epic “even if it’s spyware,” valuing the freedom of choice.
- Others ask why such users stay on iPhone: answers include better perceived UX, long‑term performance, ecosystem integration, and distrust of Google’s ad‑driven model.
- Linux phones (e.g., Librem 5) are raised as theoretical competition, but most argue they’re not realistic replacements due to app, banking, messaging, and UX gaps.
EU‑only features, geo‑gating, and regulation
- Third‑party stores and future non‑WebKit browsers are enabled via region‑based feature flags, using multiple signals (GPS, SIM, billing, Wi‑Fi country info). Flags persist ~30 days after leaving the EU.
- Some criticize Apple’s heavy geo‑gating and see it as proof that meaningful openness only arrives through regulation.
- There is optimism that EU pressure could also bring full browser competition and robust ad‑blocking (uBlock Origin‑class) to iOS, though current extension support on iOS browsers remains limited and uneven.