Epic Games Takes Aim at Apple and Google Over EU Digital Laws.

Accuses Tech Giants of Twisting the Digital Markets Act to Their Advantage.

In what’s shaping up to be a battle of the tech titans, 🎮 Epic Games has fired a barrage of accusations at 💻 Apple and 📱 Google, claiming both are dodging the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) by playing dirty with “malicious compliance.”

🧠 Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney Pulls No Punches

In a series of bold statements on social media and beyond, Tim Sweeney, Epic’s outspoken CEO, didn’t mince words. He branded Apple’s newly updated App Store policies for the EU as “💩 hot garbage,” accusing them of forcing developers to choose between two illegal paths:

• 📵 Stick with the App Store and accept terms that violate DMA
• 💰 Or go with Apple’s new system filled with junk fees and “Apple taxes” on transactions they don’t even handle

“Apple is twisting the DMA into something unrecognizable,” said Sweeney, emphasizing that Apple is intentionally creating friction to keep its iron grip on the ecosystem.

💣 Google Not Off the Hook Either

Epic didn’t stop at Apple. Google was also called out for creating a “Google Tax” — new fees added to web-based transactions. While Google has technically complied with the DMA by dropping its anti-steering rules, Epic claims it’s now charging developers for services it doesn’t even provide.

🔍 According to Epic, this is nothing more than “monopoly rent extraction” and a textbook example of self-preferencing, where Google is making it harder for developers to bypass their payment systems.

🕹 Fortnite Returns: Epic’s Counterattack

Epic isn’t just complaining — it’s taking action. The company has announced that Fortnite will officially return to iOS in the EU later this year via the new Epic Games Store for iOS. This bold move comes after a multi-year legal war with Apple over in-app purchase restrictions.

🎯 “The DMA is a big step in breaking up monopolies, but only if it’s enforced the right way,” Sweeney noted.

⚖️ Why This Matters: A Global Tech Power Shift?

This showdown is more than just a corporate squabble. It’s a test case for the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which aims to rein in Big Tech and empower smaller developers and consumers.

🌍 As Epic pushes forward, the world is watching. Will the EU crack down on Big Tech evasion tactics, or will Apple and Google continue to manipulate the system from the inside?