adminThe Epic Games Store in Japan is now available on iPhone, following the implementation of Japan’s Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA) in December 2025. The law supports alternative app marketplaces and payment options, creating a new route for iPhone users to access games outside Apple’s App Store.
Image credit: Epic Games
Epic Games Store in Japan: What’s available at launch?
The store is launching with Epic’s own games, including Fortnite and Rocket League Sideswipe. It will not initially host apps from other developers. Epic says this decision is connected to the costs and requirements it faces when operating a competing store in Japan.
According to Epic, Apple applies a 5% Core Technology Commission fee to apps distributed through third-party stores and requires developers to track and report transactions. Epic argues that these obligations add complexity and expense, which can discourage developers from publishing through alternative marketplaces. For now, users should therefore expect a selection focused on Epic’s own titles rather than a broad catalogue of third-party apps.
Installation steps and competition concerns
Epic also objects to the installation process. The company says Apple requires users in Japan to complete nine steps to install its alternative store, creating extra friction for people who want to use a different marketplace. The number of steps matters because a longer process can make users less likely to finish an installation.
Epic has pointed to its experience in Europe as an example. When the store first launched there, Apple’s installation process involved 15 steps. After regulatory pressure, the process was reduced to six, and Epic reported a 60% decrease in player drop-off during installation. This figure is Epic’s reported result; it describes installation drop-off rather than overall game usage.
Practical tip: Before installing an alternative app store, review the on-screen instructions and confirm that you are using the intended marketplace. The available installation process may depend on local rules and platform requirements.
How Japan’s law fits into Epic’s wider dispute with Apple
The MSCA has a similar aim to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act: it requires support for alternative app stores and payment options. Epic says it is continuing to work with Japanese regulators and has urged the Japan Fair Trade Commission to enforce the law, arguing that fees and installation requirements can limit consumer choice and competition.
The Japanese launch follows the Epic Games Store’s arrival on iOS in the European Union in September 2024, after the DMA took effect. In the United States, Fortnite returned to iOS after a district court ruled that Apple could not collect fees on purchases made outside its App Store.
Epic’s legal conflict with Apple began in 2020, when Apple removed Fortnite from its App Store over claims that the game had bypassed the platform’s payment fees. The Japan launch is another development in that longer-running dispute.
What iPhone users in Japan should know
The Epic Games Store in Japan gives iPhone users another way to access Epic’s games, but the launch is limited to Epic’s own titles. Its broader impact will depend on how alternative-store rules are applied and whether installation requirements or fees change. Check the current store information before installing, as the catalogue and process may evolve.
