Epic Games has stated that it will release Fortnite for the iPad in the future, as Apple is obligated to make the same EU changes on the iPhone.
Epic Games is preparing to offer an iPhone version of Fortnite in the EU. The game will be sold through the Epic Games Store, an alternative software marketplace. Fortnite will be available for iPhone soon and iPad later this year.
The European Commission identified iPadOS, the operating system for the iPad, as a digital gatekeeper under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). Apple has six months to comply with the DMA’s rules, which are already applied to iPhones.
Starting with iOS 17.4, iPhone users in the European Union can download apps from alternate app marketplaces instead of the App Store. In iOS 17.5, apps are also available directly from developer websites. Currently, only iPhone apps may be downloaded outside of the App Store. However, Apple needs to expand this functionality to include the iPad.
EU customers can download iPad software from various app markets and websites within six months. The planned changes to the iPad app ecosystem will only affect the European Union, while the rest of the globe will continue to use the current version.