Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, and music streaming service Spotify are actively testing Apple’s latest changes to its App Store policies by submitting apps for review that would not have passed under previous guidelines. The move comes as the companies push against Apple’s longstanding control over app distribution and payments on iOS devices.
Apple has recently made modifications to its App Store rules to comply with increasing legal and regulatory pressures around the globe. While some restrictions have been eased—such as allowing developers to steer users to alternative payment methods outside the App Store—many developers, including Epic Games and Spotify, argue that the changes are superficial and do not go far enough.
Epic and Spotify are capitalizing on these policy tweaks to see whether Apple has truly made room for more competitive app behaviors. Both companies have a history of criticizing Apple’s so-called “App Store tax”—the up to 30% commission charged on in-app purchases—and its dominance over the iOS app ecosystem. Epic notably filed one of the most high-profile antitrust lawsuits against Apple after its Fortnite game was removed from the App Store in 2020 for violating payment policy rules.
Now, with Apple under pressure from regulators in the U.S. and European Union—as well as new legal frameworks like the EU’s Digital Markets Act—developers are increasingly emboldened to test the limits of what Apple will approve. Spotify, for instance, has long sought the ability to inform users of alternative ways to subscribe to its premium service outside of the App Store, while Epic aims to launch its own third-party app store on iOS.
It’s unclear how Apple will respond to these new submissions, but the outcome may set critical precedents for how far developers can go under the revised policies. The challenge by Epic and Spotify underscores a broader industry push to open up the tightly controlled iOS ecosystem and offer consumers greater choice and flexibility in how they access digital content and services.
As tensions continue between Apple and major app developers, the tech world is watching closely to see whether these latest maneuvers will prompt further reforms—or renewed conflict.
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