Epic Games Store launches on iPhone in Brazil
Epic Games has opened its mobile store to iPhone users in Brazil after an agreement with the Brazilian competition regulator CADE. The launch makes Fortnite and Rocket League Sideswipe available for download directly from the Epic website, bypassing the Apple App Store.
Brazilian users must complete a nine‑step installation flow that includes multiple warning screens, a process that Apple uses in the country but reduced to six steps in the European Union after regulatory pressure. Apple continues to levy a 5 % Core Technology Commission on sales made through third‑party app stores, plus a 15 % fee on purchases via external links and a 21 % fee on in‑app payment processing. Epic offsets the cost for its own games by offering a 20 % cashback through Epic Rewards.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney accused Apple of employing U.S. lobbyists to damage Brazil‑U.S. relations in retaliation for the CADE settlement. Apple denied the allegation, stating it is cooperating with Brazilian regulators and that the settlement already provides reduced commissions and alternative payment options.
Entities: Apple Inc. · Cade · Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE) · Epic Games · Epic Games Inc. · Fortnite · Tim Sweeney
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A Brazilian competition regulator settlement (Cade’s Term of Commitment) made Brazil the third jurisdiction to permit alternative iOS app stores. (Regulatory background)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Apple charges a 5% Core Technology Commission on sales made through third‑party app stores on iOS. (Apple fee policy)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Epic Games Store can be downloaded on iPhone in Brazil via Epic's website. (Epic Games Store launch announcements)
- [● 6 SOURCES] Installing the Epic Games Store on iPhone in Brazil requires nine steps and multiple warning screens. (Epic Games Store launch)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Tim Sweeney accused Apple of trying to damage US‑Brazil relations and of imposing illegal fees. (CEO remarks)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Apple charges a 15% fee on purchases via external links and a 21% fee on in‑app payment processing. (Apple fee policy)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Apple reduced its installation flow in the EU from 15 to 6 steps after regulatory pressure, which cut user drop‑off by about 60% for the Epic Games Store. (Epic Games comparisons)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Fortnite and Rocket League Sideswipe are available through the Epic Games Store on iPhone in Brazil. (Launch announcements)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Tim Sweeney accused Apple of using U.S. lobbyists to damage Brazil‑U.S. relations after the CADE settlement. (Tim Sweeney statement)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Epic offers a 20% cashback on purchases made through the Epic Games Store via Epic Rewards. (Epic promotional offer)
- [● 6 SOURCES] Epic Games Store is downloadable on iPhone in Brazil via the Epic website. (Epic Games Store launch)
- [● 6 SOURCES] The store offers Fortnite and Rocket League Sideswipe for download on iPhone in Brazil. (Epic Games Store launch)