In 2023, a court decision in the legal battle between Epic Games and Apple managed to disappoint both parties. Apple wasn’t compelled to open iOS to third-party app stores, but it had to abandon its so-called “anti-steering policies” and inform users about external payment methods. Both Epic and Apple petitioned the US Supreme Court to reconsider the case, but the SCOTUS has now denied both requests.
The Epic v. Apple case took three years to conclude, yet Apple is still attempting to have the last word on the matter. The company has updated its App Store policies with new guidelines for apps that provide an external purchase link, reiterating that publishers and developers must still pay Cupertino to conduct business within the iOS ecosystem.
