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Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, has a lot to say about the changes Apple made to its App Store in the European Union. In a lengthy post on X<\/a> (formerly Twitter), Sweeney calls the update \u201ca new instance of Malicious Compliance\u201d \u2014 or, in layman\u2019s terms, \u201chot garbage.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n This afternoon, Apple announced<\/a> it would allow sideloading, alternative app stores, and third-party browser engines<\/a> on the iPhone with the rollout of iOS 17.4 this March. The company will also open up the App Store to game streaming services<\/a>, and will finally allow developers to use alternative in-app payment options. Apple made the changes to comply with the EU\u2019s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which requires large tech companies to follow a strict set of rules aimed at encouraging competition in the mobile app market and other areas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Epic, which operates the Epic Games Store as well as the game Fortnite<\/em>, has been one of the companies calling most loudly for these kinds of changes. It fought a long-running legal battle<\/a> against Apple\u2019s \u201cwalled garden\u201d approach to the App Store in the US.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n However, Sweeney doesn\u2019t think Apple\u2019s planned changes are fair to developers. He claims Apple is forcing them to \u201cchoose between App Store exclusivity and the store terms, which will be illegal under DMA, or accept a new also-illegal anticompetitive scheme rife with new Junk Fees on downloads and new Apple taxes on payments they don\u2019t process.\u201d Sweeney is likely referring to the new \u20ac0.50 (around 54 cents)\u00a0Core Technology Fee Apple will charge for each annual install for apps downloaded over 1 million times in the EU.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Sweeney also takes issue with the fact Apple can \u201cchoose which stores are allowed to compete with their App Store.\u201d He says Apple could technically block Epic from launching its storefront, and the same goes for Microsoft, Valve, Good Old Games, and others. Still, Sweeney says his goal is to launch the Epic Games Store on iOS and Android and become the \u201c#1 multi-platform software store. on the foundation of payment competition, 0%-12% fees, and exclusive games like Fortnite.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n We\u2019re bound to see more developers respond to Apple\u2019s new rule changes in the coming days. Spotify, for example, has already said it will launch an in-app payment system<\/a> in the EU once the DMA goes into effect. Both Epic and Spotify are some of Apple\u2019s most outspoken critics, with both companies hitting back at Apple for imposing a 27 percent tax<\/a> on purchases made outside the App Store in the US.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Sweeney will surely have more to say about Apple\u2019s EU policies, too, and it seems like he\u2019s just getting started. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot more hot garbage in Apple\u2019s announcement,\u201d he says. \u201cIt will take more time to parse both the written and unwritten parts of this new horror show, so stay tuned.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n