Apple and Epic Games are once again locked in a public standoff, this time over Fortnite’s failed return to iOS in Japan.
Despite Apple announcing sweeping App Store changes intended to comply with Japan’s new Mobile Software Competition Act, Epic says those reforms amount to little more than surface-level compliance that actively discourages real competition.
As a result, Epic has confirmed that Fortnite will not return to Japanese iPhones in 2025, accusing Apple of deliberately obstructing both developers and regulators.
What Was Apple Required to Change Under Japan’s New Competition Law?
Japan’s updated law was designed to weaken Apple’s long-standing control over iOS app distribution by forcing the company to allow alternative app marketplaces and payment options.
Apple technically introduced those features, but under tightly controlled conditions.
While developers are now permitted to distribute apps outside the App Store, Apple still restricts direct web downloads and maintains strict oversight over how alternative marketplaces operate.
The company has framed these limitations as necessary safeguards, arguing that opening iOS too far could expose users to security, fraud, and privacy risks.
Critics, however, see this reasoning as familiar (and increasingly unconvincing) given how often courts have rejected Apple’s security-first defense in other jurisdictions.
Why Is Apple’s New Fee Structure at the Center of the Controversy?
The main point of contention is Apple’s new fee structure, which under Japan’s rules still imposes commissions on third-party in-app payments that Epic argues are nearly as harsh as the standard App Store cut.
Apple also applies additional fees to purchases made via external websites and imposes a separate charge on revenue earned through competing app stores.
Epic argues that these overlapping charges wipe out any practical financial benefit of leaving Apple’s platform, making the promise of “choice” largely illusory.
According to Epic, Apple has changed where it collects fees without actually getting rid of them. Beyond fees, Epic has raised alarms over how Apple communicates these options to users.
Epic says Apple plans to display warnings that frame alternative app stores and payment methods as risky, effectively pushing users back to Apple-approved options.
Epic also strongly objects to Apple’s requirement that third-party marketplaces report transaction data back to Apple, calling it invasive and unnecessary for transactions Apple does not process.
Epic’s leadership has compared the situation to requiring rivals to compete while being monitored by the platform itself.
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