Epic Games has claimed that Apple's revised installation process for third-party app marketplaces in the EU demonstrates that the company was deliberately undermining competition through "deceptive design."
In a blog post published Wednesday, the Fortnite developer revealed that user drop-offs during Epic Games Store installations plummeted from 65% to 25% after Apple streamlined the process in iOS 18.6. Apple reduced the installation flow from 15 steps to six and eliminated what Epic called "scare screens" that warned users about potential dangers of installing apps outside the App Store.
"For the first time, we are starting to see iOS users install the Epic Games Store with a success rate approaching Windows users and Apple's own Mac users," Epic said.
The changes came after the European Commission raised concerns in April that Apple made it "overly burdensome and confusing" for users to install alternative app distribution channels under the Digital Markets Act.
Image: Epic
Despite the improvements, Epic said Apple's policies remain anti-competitive, citing "junk fees" such as the Core Technology Fee, "discriminatory policies" against developers who support competing stores, and an approval and notarization process that "dictate[s] product design decisions to competing app developers and store developers."
Epic also criticized Google's 12-step installation process on Android, which remains in place, claiming it sabotages Epic Games Store installations more than 50% of the time.
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They call them scare screens, I call them informative. In this world of hackers, spam and identify theft, I think it is perfectly reasonable for Apple to remind users that stepping outside of the domain presents risks. That’s not scary, that’s responsible.
It is an absolute fact that without Apple's gatekeeping, there is a higher risk of installing god-knows-what. Simple.
Anybody seeking to, aware of, needing to, wanting to install a third party app-store knows what they're doing. Warnings only tell them what they know.
If they don't, then this might rightfully make them think twice, check with a friend or double check they're installing something safe.
This is very real... We're talking stalker apps, financial scams, identity theft, blackmail from stealing and leaking private data from unsuspecting peoples phones. All because rogue apps can now run free. It does happen on Android...Windows...macOS... don't underestimate the volumes of normal every day people pressing yes to things and never thinking twice about lag, or weird behaviours or even the webcam light being on...
I worked in a phone store in 2014 and the amount of older people who fell victim to accidental clicks that signed them up to old ringtone and wallpapers programs that added $5 a month to their phone bill was not small.
It will only be so long before other store apps do similar on phones and try to autobill though ApplePay...
The screens prevent people making complex technical decisions that could lead to them being exploited. The only thing being sabotaged is Tim Sweeney's bottom line. If there was an award for whiniest CEO, it would be a close one between him and Spotify's Daniel Ek.
Scare screens should be scary and should be there. As far as core technology fees, I suggest Epic check the costs on developing, marketing, and supporting its own OS and development framework.
