Just one day after third-party app stores were officially allowed on iPads in the European Union, Epic Games has announced that the Epic Games Store is now available for installation on iPadOS. However, to access it, users must reside in an EU country and have an Apple account registered in that region.
This rollout is a result of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to promote fair competition and market transparency. Over the past year, the European Commission has labeled several tech giants as “gatekeepers” due to their control over essential platform services. iPadOS, the operating system for iPads, was recently added to the list of regulated platforms under these rules.
With this designation, Apple was given a six-month deadline to modify iPadOS, enabling EU residents to install alternative app stores. Last Friday, the company confirmed that this capability would be included with the release of iPadOS 18.
Epic Games, clearly prepared for this moment, launched its game store on iPad just a day after iPadOS 18 became available. The company had already released the Epic Games Store for iPhone users earlier this year, following similar DMA requirements that allowed third-party app stores on iOS devices.
The iPad version of the Epic Games Store functions similarly to its iOS counterpart. Users can install it directly from the Epic Games website. Once installed, the store gives access to several games, including Fall Guys, Fortnite, and Rocket League Sideswipe, all optimized for full-screen play on the iPad.
When Epic Games first introduced the store on iOS, it stated that it aimed to collaborate with other game developers, allowing them to release games on iOS and iPadOS without relying on Apple’s App Store. However, there hasn’t been significant progress in that area yet, and it remains a work in progress.
As more third-party app stores become available due to the DMA, it could signal a significant shift in the way apps and games are distributed on Apple devices, with more options for both developers and consumers. For now, Epic Games Store’s availability on iPad marks an exciting development for gamers in the EU, offering popular titles like Fortnite outside of Apple’s ecosystem.
