Epic Games has claimed that Apple's revised installation process for third-party app marketplaces in the EU demonstrates that the company was deliberately undermining competition through "deceptive design."
In a blog post published Wednesday, the Fortnite developer revealed that user drop-offs during Epic Games Store installations plummeted from 65% to 25% after Apple streamlined the process in iOS 18.6. Apple reduced the installation flow from 15 steps to six and eliminated what Epic called "scare screens" that warned users about potential dangers of installing apps outside the App Store.
"For the first time, we are starting to see iOS users install the Epic Games Store with a success rate approaching Windows users and Apple's own Mac users," Epic said.
The changes came after the European Commission raised concerns in April that Apple made it "overly burdensome and confusing" for users to install alternative app distribution channels under the Digital Markets Act.
Image: Epic
Despite the improvements, Epic said Apple's policies remain anti-competitive, citing "junk fees" such as the Core Technology Fee, "discriminatory policies" against developers who support competing stores, and an approval and notarization process that "dictate[s] product design decisions to competing app developers and store developers."
Epic also criticized Google's 12-step installation process on Android, which remains in place, claiming it sabotages Epic Games Store installations more than 50% of the time.
Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon.
In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.
In his Powe...
Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models.
"All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
"Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today.
"I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by Joe Rossignol
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April.
Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far.
iOS 26.3
iPhone to Android Transfer Tool
iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
Saturday January 31, 2026 10:51 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro.
There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an...
They call them scare screens, I call them informative. In this world of hackers, spam and identify theft, I think it is perfectly reasonable for Apple to remind users that stepping outside of the domain presents risks. That’s not scary, that’s responsible.
It is an absolute fact that without Apple's gatekeeping, there is a higher risk of installing god-knows-what. Simple.
Anybody seeking to, aware of, needing to, wanting to install a third party app-store knows what they're doing. Warnings only tell them what they know.
If they don't, then this might rightfully make them think twice, check with a friend or double check they're installing something safe.
This is very real... We're talking stalker apps, financial scams, identity theft, blackmail from stealing and leaking private data from unsuspecting peoples phones. All because rogue apps can now run free. It does happen on Android...Windows...macOS... don't underestimate the volumes of normal every day people pressing yes to things and never thinking twice about lag, or weird behaviours or even the webcam light being on...
I worked in a phone store in 2014 and the amount of older people who fell victim to accidental clicks that signed them up to old ringtone and wallpapers programs that added $5 a month to their phone bill was not small.
It will only be so long before other store apps do similar on phones and try to autobill though ApplePay...
The screens prevent people making complex technical decisions that could lead to them being exploited. The only thing being sabotaged is Tim Sweeney's bottom line. If there was an award for whiniest CEO, it would be a close one between him and Spotify's Daniel Ek.
Scare screens should be scary and should be there. As far as core technology fees, I suggest Epic check the costs on developing, marketing, and supporting its own OS and development framework.
