Epic Games Store Now Available on iPad in the EU following iPadOS 18 Update

As a part of its compliance with the DMA, Apple had six months to update iPadOS

Just a day after the European Union allowed third-party app stores on the iPad, Epic Games announced the launch of the Epic Games Store for iPadOS. The release comes in response to the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to increase competition by regulating "core platform services," including Apple's iPadOS. As a part of its compliance with the DMA, Apple had six months to update iPadOS, allowing EU residents to install alternative app stores. This was achieved with the release of iPadOS 18, enabling users in EU countries, with appropriately registered Apple accounts, to install the Epic Games Store.

Epic Games, well-prepared for the change, swiftly rolled out the store for iPad on Tuesday. The launch follows the company's earlier release of its store on iOS, where third-party app stores were already permitted. The iPad version of the Epic Games Store mirrors its iOS counterpart, offering popular games like Fall Guys, Fortnite, and Rocket League Sideswipe, optimized for the iPad’s full-screen display. Users can download the store from Epic’s website and enjoy games directly on their device.

While Epic Games had previously mentioned plans to collaborate with other developers for direct game launches bypassing Apple's App Store, no further developments on this front have been announced yet. The rollout represents a significant step in offering more gaming options to EU-based Apple users.