In a fiery response to Apple's compliance with new Japanese regulations, Tim Sweeney, the outspoken CEO of Epic Games, has launched a scathing attack on the tech giant. Apple recently announced it would open the iPhone to alternative app marketplaces in Japan, but Sweeney has labelled the move a "travesty of obstruction" and confirmed that Fortnite will not return to iOS in Japan in 2025 as previously anticipated.
Japan's New Law and Apple's Controversial Compliance
Japan's government introduced new competition laws aimed at dismantling Apple's long-standing 30% commission monopoly on in-app purchases. The goal was to provide Japanese developers with more choice while maintaining security standards. Under the announced changes, developers in Japan can now launch their own independent app stores on iPhones. For sales through these stores, they must pay Apple a reduced commission of 5%.
Furthermore, developers who continue to use Apple's standard App Store are now permitted to include links to external websites for user payments. However, for these transactions, Apple will still collect a 15% fee.
Sweeney's Blistering Critique: "Junk Fees" and Obstruction
Tim Sweeney, a longtime critic of Apple's tightly controlled ecosystem, did not mince words on social media platform X. He argued that Apple is merely replacing one monopoly with another through a series of new "junk fees." He specifically called the 15% fee on web purchases and the 5% distribution fee illegal, citing previous US court rulings.
"Apple was required to open up iOS to competing stores today, and instead of doing so honestly, they have launched another travesty of obstruction and lawbreaking in gross disrespect to the government and people of Japan," Sweeney stated. He accused Apple of introducing anticompetitive warning screens designed to scare users away from rival stores and imposing unnecessary surveillance on transactions within competing marketplaces.
The Fallout: Fortnite's Return Cancelled and Future Action
The immediate consequence of this dispute is the confirmed cancellation of Fortnite's planned return to iOS devices in Japan next year. Sweeney declared that real competition cannot flourish under Apple's new framework, which he views as an abuse of its platform power.
Epic Games has announced its intention to formally raise these complaints with the Japanese Fair Trade Commission. The situation marks another intense chapter in the global battle between major app developers and platform holders over store policies, fees, and market control. Consumers in Japan, who were poised to benefit from greater choice, may now face continued limitations due to the ongoing standoff.
