Playing Fortnite on iPhone again has shown me an alternative future

For the first time since August 2020, Fortnite is back on iOS and it’s as exciting and engaging as ever, even if a lot has changed in the meantime.

After years of legal battles, rumors, and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Epic Games’ flagship title has reappeared on the new Epic Games Store for iOS and Android, as well as the third-party marketplace AltStore PAL.

There are some caveats. While Android users around the world can take the plunge, only iPhone owners based in the EU can download the store following Apple’s DMA crackdown. The launch of the Epic Games Store offers a glimpse into what’s possible as a result of these regulations, and it could be a seismic moment for third-party iOS marketplaces in general.

While four alternative app stores have been released since the EU compliance date in March, none have particularly taken the industry by storm. Setapp Mobile is constantly adding more apps, but remains in closed beta; Mobivention is focused on B2B; Aptoide has not fully launched and only allows 500 additional users per day; and AltStore PAL has had minimal success in getting apps notarized.

But today’s launch of the Epic Games Store could change everything. The company’s catalog of world-famous titles like Fortnite, Autumn boysAND Rocket League could be the spark that ignites public fervor for alternative app stores. Epic also seems eager for the sector to thrive, as it is distributing its games through other third-party marketplaces, starting with AltStore PAL and then Aptoide in the future.

Before we talk about what that future might look like, we need to take a step back and install the Epic Games Store.

Bringing the Marketplace to an iPhone in Europe is similar to other alternative marketplaces in that it requires about a dozen on-screen interactions. For new users, this can be daunting, but Epic’s helpful instructions are clear and easy to follow. There is a caveat where the FAQ states that the Epic Games Store can be installed on phones with “iOS 17.4 or later,” but we had to update to 17.6.

The Epic Games Store on iOS and Android launches with Fortnite, Rocket League Side Shotand a mobile version of Autumn boys. Once you’ve set up the marketplace, downloading a game to your phone is as easy as clicking “Install.”

THE Fortnite The iOS gaming experience is brilliant. The game runs flawlessly and I had no issues with the responsiveness of the screen controls, network connection or graphics. The only thing that struck me as odd was that we were denied access to the game. Fortnite like this for so long.

Overall, the process for getting the Epic Games Store on Android is similar to iOS. Installation requires fewer steps, but still requires eight on-screen interactions. After that, it was easy. I installed Fortnite and it went wild. Gameplay was iPhone-like: smooth and seamless, with the only noticeable difference being hardware, as I tested with a wobbly Google Pixel 5 on Android and a more capable iPhone Pro Max 13 running iOS.

The Epic Games Store isn’t the only way to access the company’s titles. AltStore PAL users can also download Fortnite, Rocket League side shot, AND Autumn boyswith Aptoide support coming in the future.

Apple makes installing AltStore PAL on iOS just as onerous. The marketplace then requires users to add “sources,” which are URLs containing JSON files that contain app metadata. While this may sound complex, it’s actually simple: add a link and get a list of apps from a developer. For Epic Games titles, it’s even easier, as the store is included in AltStore PAL’s recommended sources.

Once you’ve added Epic Games as a source, all you have to do is start a download and start cracking. Easy as pie. The main difference is that the Epic Games Store is more elegant and capable than AltStore PAL. This isn’t just in terms of the user interface, but also in the fact that the Epic Games Store will soon support Parental Controls, something that will allow guardians to limit access to age-inappropriate titles and block spending. Overall, though, both marketplaces do the same thing: install and play games.

Epic is taking a rising tide-lifts-all-boats approach to its support of alternative app stores that could make it a lot more money. But only if it can convince the public that the water is safe outside the Big Tech ecosystem.

Earlier this week, Epic Games gave AltStore PAL a “MegaGrant” that made it free to use, significantly increasing its chances of going mainstream. And because AltStore PAL doesn’t host developers’ apps, it doesn’t take a cut of any downloads or cut into Epic’s profits. Epic has little to lose but a lot to gain by distributing its games on its store and other third-party marketplaces.

There’s also a PR element to Epic’s actions, as it courts the favor of regulators in the EU, UK, and US who are actively investigating antitrust complaints against Apple and Google. Several possible outcomes could have a positive impact on Epic’s coffers.

Regardless of Epic’s motivations, the industry has been clamoring for a big name to step up and attract a large audience. Fortnite-owning Epic Games could do just that. If people flock to these third-party app stores, it will serve as a wake-up call to other developers, many of whom, on paper, would rather give Epic Games a 12 percent cut of the revenue than take Apple’s 30 percent cut of the App Store.

But last week Apple introduced new rules to take a cut of off-platform sales, making third-party app stores less attractive to developers. And mass adoption of these stores will require that many users not be scared off by the deluge of warnings they see during installation.

Apple in particular doesn’t want alternative marketplaces to take off and threaten its hegemony. It’s estimated to earn $70 billion a year in revenue from the App Store, and it’s not going to give that up without a fight tooth and nail.

Epic Games has put the future of third-party marketplaces on iOS on the line. Now we just have to wait and see if they can dent Apple’s dominance.