On January 23, Epic Games announced plans to expand its marketplace app on Android and iOS platforms. The company will introduce 19 third-party games globally on Google's Android and 16 games in the European Union on Apple's iOS.
Epic Games initiated its mobile game store in 2024 to bypass fees from traditional app platforms like Google Play and Apple's App Store, allowing for in-app purchases without additional charges.
Epic Games contended that the limited options for downloading gaming apps through popular stores hindered competition, leading them to offer free games on their mobile store. Initial titles include Bloons TD 6" and "Dungeon of the Endless: Apogee.
To support developers participating in the free-games program in Europe, Epic Games will cover Apple's technology fees temporarily, which amount to 0.50 euros ($0.5210) per app after exceeding 1 million installs.
CEO Tim Sweeney stated, We are opening up the Epic Games Store to mobile games from third parties, with plans to expand the catalog gradually, aiming to create a single cross-platform store.
Epic Games, based in North Carolina, reached 29 million users by the end of 2024, falling short of the target of 100 million users for its mobile store. Besides gaming, the company offers popular computer graphics software known as "Unreal Engine" for game development.
Epic Games' "Fortnite" was banned for nearly four years on Apple and Android devices globally before its recent approval in Europe. Apple and Google's policies of charging up to 30% commissions on app store payments led to disputes with Epic Games.