Epic Games announced plans to broaden its mobile game store presence by launching a new free games program and temporarily covering Apple's developer fees in the European Union.
The gaming giant will add approximately 20 third-party titles to its mobile platform, starting with Bloons TD 6 and Dungeon of the Endless: Apogee as free offerings. The company plans to release new free games monthly before transitioning to weekly releases.
In a notable move to attract developers, Epic will pay the Apple Core Technology Fee (CTF) for participants in its free games program for one year. The CTF charges developers 50 euro cents per download after reaching 1 million annual installations on iOS devices using third-party stores.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney criticized the CTF during a press briefing, describing it as "ruinous for any hopes of a competing store getting a foothold." While acknowledging the financial burden of covering these fees, Sweeney stated the company feels compelled to "break the logjam."
The expansion focuses primarily on the European Union market, where recent Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations have forced Apple to open its ecosystem to third-party stores. Epic hopes this move will help build a unified cross-platform marketplace where users can access their purchased games and items across different devices.
Epic's mobile store rollout has faced initial technical challenges, with the company reporting bugs that delayed the immediate availability of the announced games. The gaming company promises to update users once the titles are ready for play.
This initiative marks another chapter in Epic's ongoing dispute with mobile platform holders Apple and Google. While Android has traditionally allowed multiple app stores, Epic continues to push for broader marketplace freedom, particularly on iOS devices where restrictions remain outside the EU.