Epic Games slams UK regulator over 'weak' digital rules, says Fortnite return on iPhone uncertain

Fortnite

Epic Games has issued a scathing response to the UK’s newly announced digital markets regulation, calling the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) roadmap vague, disappointing, and lacking any real intent to challenge the dominance of Apple and Google.

The company’s comments follow the CMA’s decision to designate both Apple and Google as firms with “strategic market status” under the new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. This classification comes with certain obligations, including allowing app developers to guide users to alternate payment methods, improving ranking transparency, and five years of ongoing regulatory oversight.

According to a report from CNBC, the CMA also plans to investigate whether Apple should be compelled to allow third-party app stores and sideloading on iOS in the UK starting next year.

In a detailed blog post, Epic Games said it would not launch the Epic Games Store on iOS in the UK this year and cast doubt on Fortnite’s return to iPhones in the region. The company accused the CMA of avoiding real reform by not prioritising alternative app stores in its regulatory roadmap.

Calling the current mobile ecosystem a “parallel monopoly” controlled by Apple and Google, Epic said the UK had missed a critical opportunity to open the market to genuine competition and user choice.

The blog also drew comparisons with Brazil and Japan, where Epic claims regulatory frameworks are more progressive, enabling Fortnite’s return and the store's launch later this year.

Epic further criticised the CMA’s unclear stance on anti-steering rules—regulations meant to prevent Apple from penalising developers who guide users to external payment platforms. The company referenced US court orders as the gold standard, arguing that any rules without a ban on junk fees or discriminatory behaviour would lead to “malicious compliance” rather than actual change.

Epic concluded by urging the CMA to revise its decisions, warning that Fortnite’s comeback on iOS in the UK remains unlikely unless there’s a course correction.