The much-requested iPhone sideloading experience will no longer be exclusive to the European Union as Brazil has strongarmed Apple into permitting this feature that opens up their exclusive tech ecosystem.
This news is a good one particularly for Epic Games as it is now teasing the return of “Fortnite” to iOS.
Brazil Strongarms Apple to Open the iPhone for Sideloading
Epic Games shared a new post via Fortnite Brazil’s X account earlier, and the company announced the return of the battle royale game to iOS and iPhones via sideloading.
It was revealed by Epic Games that Brazil’s CADE (Administrative Council for Economic Defense) recently won a court battle against Apple. Brazil’s regulator successfully pushed Apple into adhering to its terms, winning the court battle between the two regarding anti-competition issues in the region.
It is the same case that the EU won, particularly with the Digital Markets Act that forced Apple to open up the iPhone’s iOS and the App Store to allow sideloading or face massive fines.
Epic Games: ‘Fortnite’ Is Making a Comeback in Brazil
According to Epic Games, the Brazilian mandate against Apple will take effect in July, and this also marks the period of “Fortnite’s” return to the country for the public to sideload via the Apple App Store.
It remains unknown as of writing how Epic Games will do it, but it may be similar to how the company did it in Europe. Epic Games ended up launching its third-party Epic Games Store.
Epic Games, ‘Fortnite,’ and Apple’s App Store
Way back in 2020, “Fortnite” was banned by Apple on iOS and its App Store because it offered a third-party payment service for in-app purchases, which violated the terms and conditions of their agreement.
For years, Epic fought Apple regarding this issue, but while their case got to the court mandating for App Store changes, it did not bring back their developer account in the United States.
That being said, this still changed for Epic Games thanks to the European Union’s massive push for the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which forced Apple and other first-party app marketplaces to open its doors and allow third parties to sideload and operate their app stores.
After several issues with Apple, Epic Games’ developer account was permitted to operate on iOS, which in turn, was able to distribute its games, including “Fortnite.”
