Epic Games wants to encourage the sale of alternative apps for iPhones in the EU and at the same time annoy Apple. That’s why the gaming giant – shortly before the planned iOS launch of the in-house Epic Games Store – is helping an alternative app marketplace: Thanks to an unspecified subsidy from Epic, the installation of AltStore PAL is now free, according to the developer’s announcement. Epic’s “megagrant” makes it possible to pay Apple’s controversial “core technology fee” and therefore waive the previously anticipated subscription.
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Apple charges per installation
Alternative app stores in the EU must transfer 50 cents (per year) to Apple for each individual installation of the marketplace. A reasonably popular app store that achieves 1 million downloads in the EU must transfer 500,000 euros per year to Apple. AltStore PAL was therefore previously behind the payment barrier, costing users 1.80 euros per year – which is now stable. The developer stressed that existing subscriptions will be automatically terminated.
With this move, Epic Games is making the alternative marketplace more attractive, as some users may be disappointed with just subscribing. Epic wants to sell Fortnite, which has been kicked out of the App Store, soon on AltStore PAL as well as the in-house Epic Games Store. Epic announced earlier in the week that the game and the Games Store had been submitted to Apple for review (notarization) – they wanted to launch soon. Epic Games and Apple had previously clashed again as the iPhone company temporarily halted the approval of the Games Store.
German data protection: Preparing for standardized tests for messengersAlternative app stores are still rare in the EU
Since March, due to the new rules of the Digital Markets Act, Apple has had to allow alternative app stores in the EU on the iPhone and soon also on the iPad. Installing such markets on the iPhone is cumbersome and users should expect restrictions. So far, there are only two other app stores besides AltStore PAL, which is still in closed beta.
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