Epic accuses Apple of undermining Brazil antitrust deal with restrictive app store rules

Epic Games filed a petition with Brazil’s antitrust authority CADE accusing Apple of sidestepping the recent App Store antitrust deal. The company claims Apple’s actions create structural, technical, and access barriers that weaken the practical viability of alternative app distribution. This follows Apple’s announcement two months ago that developers could distribute iOS apps through alternative marketplaces in Brazil.

Epic points out that installing apps outside the App Store now requires nine steps on iOS, whereas the same process in Europe takes six steps after Apple reduced it from fifteen. The firm also says Apple uses scare sheets that warn users against installing apps from other sources, which discourages adoption. Additionally, Epic argues that Apple’s reporting requirements go beyond what is needed to calculate fees and let Apple monitor competitors’ business models. These factors increase the effort and cost for developers who want to use alternative distribution channels.

If the barriers stand, developers may find it too burdensome to offer apps through third-party stores or external payment systems in Brazil. The complexity of the installation process and the reporting overhead could stop working for smaller teams that lack compliance resources. A ruling that forces Apple to simplify steps and reduce reporting could restore the intended competition from the antitrust settlement.