What to know

  • Epic Games will let developers launch webshops to bypass Apple and Google app store fees.
  • Developers pay 0% fees on the first $1 million in revenue per app per year through Epic's system.
  • The move follows a court ruling forcing Apple to allow out-of-app purchases in the US and EU.
  • Players using Epic webshops will earn 5% back in Epic Rewards on purchases.

Epic Games is introducing a new feature called webshops, which will allow game developers to sell digital goods directly to players. This means developers can avoid paying high fees to app stores like Apple and Google, which usually take up to 30% of each sale.

The change comes after a recent court ruling in the United States. The judge ordered Apple to let developers direct users to make purchases outside the App Store. Apple must now comply with this order in both the US and the European Union. Epic Games has been in a long legal fight with Apple over these fees, and this ruling is a major shift for the industry.

Starting in June 2025, developers using the Epic Games Store will pay no fees on the first $1 million in revenue per app each year. After that, Epic will take a 12% share, which is still lower than the fees charged by Apple and Google. This new policy is expected to help small and independent developers the most, as many do not make more than $1 million per year.

Players who buy digital goods through these webshops will also receive 5% back in Epic Rewards. This incentive could encourage more players to use the new system instead of buying through traditional app stores.

Epic Games is also bringing its popular game Fortnite back to the iOS App Store in the US. Players will be encouraged to use Epic's webshop for better prices on digital items. Other developers can now follow this model, offering their own webshops to reach players directly and save on fees.

This move is seen as a significant change in how digital goods are sold on mobile platforms. Developers now have more control over their sales and can offer better deals to players. The new webshops will be available on any platform that allows them, including iOS in the US and EU.

Apple has said it will follow the court's order but plans to appeal the decision. For now, developers can start preparing to launch their own webshops through the Epic Games Store next month.

Via: Tech Crunch