Epic Games Store launched on iPhone in Japan on April 30, 2026, enabled by the Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA). Fortnite, Fall Guys, and Rocket League Sideswipe are now playable, though Apple’s fees and installation barriers remain a point of contention.
Epic Games Store went live on iPhone in Japan on April 30, 2026, bringing Fortnite back to iOS in the country for the first time since August 2020. The launch was made possible by Japan’s Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA), which came into effect on December 18, 2025, and requires Apple and Google to allow alternative app stores and payment methods on their platforms. At launch, the store features Fortnite, Fall Guys, and Rocket League Sideswipe, along with access to over 345,000 user-created experiences built with Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN).
What Is the MSCA and Why Does It Matter?
Japan’s Mobile Software Competition Act closely mirrors the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). It designates Apple and Google as “specified providers” and mandates that they open their mobile operating systems to third-party app stores, alternative payment processors, and external purchase links. The legislation was designed to break platform monopolies and promote fair competition in mobile software distribution.
Apple announced its compliance framework in December 2025, introducing new fee structures specifically for the Japanese market. The company allows developers to distribute apps through alternative marketplaces and use third-party payment systems, but attaches significant fees: a 26% commission on Apple’s own payment system (down from 30%), a 21% fee on third-party payment processing, 15% on external payment links, and a 5% Core Technology Commission (CTC) for apps distributed through alternative stores.
Which Games Are Available Right Now?
Epic Games Store in Japan currently offers only first-party Epic titles:
- Fortnite: The full battle royale experience, currently running the Showdown season (Chapter 7 Season 2) with Star Wars-themed content for May.
- Fall Guys: The complete mobile version with cross-platform progression.
- Rocket League Sideswipe: The mobile-optimized version of the car-football game.
No third-party games have been added yet. Steve Allison, Epic Games Store General Manager, explained that Apple’s CTC fees and mandatory reporting obligations are “hard to decipher for studios and creating friction that needs to be overcome.” Most independent developers are in “wait and see” mode, unwilling to navigate the complex fee structures and compliance requirements Apple has imposed.
How Do You Install the Epic Games Store on iPhone in Japan?
Unlike downloading a regular app from the App Store, installing the Epic Games Store requires several manual steps. Your iPhone needs to be running iOS 17.6 or later, and the process works like this:
- Open Safari and navigate to Epic Games’ official download page.
- Tap the Install button on the page.
- When prompted, go to Settings and find the App Installation Management section.
- Grant permission for apps from Epic Games Inc.
- Review and confirm the permission, then double-click the side button to authorize the installation.
Epic Games claims Apple requires a nine-step installation process in Japan, which the company describes as a deliberate barrier to competition. For context, when the store launched in the EU in August 2024, Apple initially required 15 steps. Regulatory pressure reduced that to six, which Epic says cut the drop-off rate by 60%. The company is in discussions with the Japan Fair Trade Commission to push for further simplification.
Why Are Apple’s Fees So Controversial?
The core of the dispute centres on Apple’s 21% commission for third-party payment processing. When a developer uses their own payment system, they handle all transaction risk, customer support, refund management, and processing costs (typically 2-3%). Despite providing none of these services, Apple still charges 21%, which nearly matches the cost of using Apple’s own full-service payment infrastructure at 26%.
Tim Sweeney, Epic Games CEO, has consistently described these fees as “malicious compliance,” arguing that Apple technically satisfies legal requirements while economically undermining their purpose. In December 2025, when the MSCA first took effect, Sweeney called Apple’s implementation “another travesty of obstruction and lawbreaking” and initially refused to launch in Japan at all. The fact that Epic ultimately launched several months later suggests either the regulatory environment shifted enough, or Epic decided to establish presence despite the unfavourable economics.
The 5% CTC applies to all revenue from apps distributed through alternative marketplaces, not just in-app purchases. If a game generates advertising revenue alongside purchases, Apple still collects 5% of that advertising income. Apple also requires developers to integrate a mandatory reporting API that transmits transaction data back to Apple, giving the platform full visibility into competitor operations.
How Does the Japan Launch Compare to the EU?
| Feature | EU | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Launch date | August 16, 2024 | April 30, 2026 |
| Devices supported | iPhone and iPad | iPhone only |
| Third-party games | ~60 titles on iOS | None yet |
| CTC rate | Varies under DMA | 5% on all revenue |
| Third-party payment fee | Varies by DMA terms | 21% |
| Installation steps (current) | ~6 steps | ~9 steps |
The EU remains Epic’s most mature iOS market. Android, which doesn’t face the same restrictions, is available globally with close to 200 titles. Total mobile Epic Games Store installs have reached approximately 30 million, significantly below the company’s original 100 million target, largely due to what Epic describes as Apple’s “scare screens” and installation friction.
Where Is the Epic Games Store Heading Next?
Epic has confirmed that Brazil is planned for later in 2026. The United Kingdom, which passed the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (DMCC) in May 2024, is also expected to receive the store. Australia is on the radar as well. The company’s strategy is clear: launch in every market where legislation forces Apple to allow alternative app stores, starting with first-party games and expanding to third-party catalogues as fee structures become workable for developers.
Steve Allison outlined the priority sequence: “In the short term, we’ll continue to work on iOS and continue to bring Fortnite back and all the partners that are willing to come wherever we can next like Japan, Brazil and hopefully Australia. But that’ll be more about first-party Epic games than opportunity for third parties, because it’s a lot to work through.”
The Bigger Picture: Epic vs. Apple
The Japan launch is one chapter in a legal and regulatory battle that has reshaped the mobile ecosystem since 2020. Key milestones include Epic’s original lawsuit against Apple in August 2020, the September 2021 district court ruling that found Apple did not maintain an illegal monopoly but did violate California’s Unfair Competition Law, the EU’s DMA opening iOS to third-party stores from March 2024, and Judge Rogers’s April 2025 contempt finding that Apple “willfully chose not to comply” with anti-steering injunctions.
Apple is currently petitioning the US Supreme Court to overturn key parts of the ruling. Meanwhile, the Ninth Circuit affirmed in December 2025 that Apple’s initial compliance attempts were bad faith, finding that the company “prohibited developers from using buttons, links, and other calls to action without paying a prohibitive commission.” The legal saga is far from over, but each new regional launch chips away at Apple’s historically closed ecosystem.
What Players Usually Ask
Is Fortnite free on the Epic Games Store in Japan?
Yes. Fortnite, Fall Guys, and Rocket League Sideswipe are all free to download and play. Optional in-app purchases are available, but the games themselves cost nothing.
Does cross-platform progression work?
Yes. Your Epic Games account carries your progress, V-Bucks, skins, and Battle Pass across PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Nintendo Switch, and now iPhone in Japan. Everything stays synced.
Can I use the Epic Games Store on iPhone in Europe?
Yes. The Epic Games Store has been available on iPhone and iPad in EU member states since August 2024. The EU version also includes third-party games and a growing catalogue.
Is the Epic Games Store available on iPhone in the US?
In the US, Fortnite returned to the Apple App Store directly in May 2025 following the court ruling. The separate Epic Games Store app for iOS is not yet available in the US; it functions through the App Store itself.
What about Android?
The Epic Games Store is available globally on Android devices, with close to 200 titles and self-publishing coming in mid-2026. No regional restrictions apply to Android.
If you are looking to buy or sell Epic Games accounts, including Fortnite accounts with rare skins and high-value inventories, GamerMarkt’s Epic Games Account marketplace provides a secure platform with buyer protection and verified sellers.
What This Means for Mobile Gaming
Japan’s adoption of the MSCA and Epic’s subsequent launch mark another step in the global dismantling of Apple’s walled garden. The EU’s DMA, Japan’s MSCA, the UK’s DMCC, and US court orders are collectively pushing mobile platforms toward openness. While Apple continues to resist through fee structures and installation barriers, the regulatory momentum appears irreversible. Each new market that opens strengthens Epic’s case for global iOS distribution and gives developers more leverage to negotiate fairer terms.
The real test will be whether third-party developers follow. Right now, Apple’s complex fee layers and reporting obligations are keeping most studios away from alternative stores. If Japan’s Fair Trade Commission pushes Apple to simplify its compliance, the Epic Games Store in Japan could evolve from a first-party-only storefront into a genuine App Store competitor, just as it is slowly becoming in Europe.
