Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL, ETR:APC) will allow rival app stores on its iPhones for users living in the European Union starting this March.
It marks a shift from Apple's long-standing policy of exclusively hosting apps through its own App Store, a practice that has previously drawn criticism and accusations of monopolistic behaviour.
Some developers claimed to be charged up to 30% commission for in-store sales.
While it will not apply to Brits, Parliament is aiming to pass the Digital Markets Bill, which looks to provide the government with similar powers to its EU counterparts.
Fortnite producer Epic Games pulled its hit battle royale game from the app store back in 2020 due to disagreements over Apple’s policies and has been embroiled in legal disputes since.
Last week, the US Supreme Court decided not to review the dispute, effectively upholding a lower court's ruling, which largely leaves Apple's App Store policies intact.
Although it must now comply with a lower court's injunction to permit developers to direct users to external payment methods.
However, Friday’s ruling could pave the way for Fortnite to return to mobiles in EU countries.
Apple, while embracing this change, has not shied away from expressing concerns over the potential risks associated with this new direction.
It warned of increased security risks for customers, including heightened exposure to malware, fraud and scams potentially hidden within apps from non-Apple stores.
In addition to opening up its app ecosystem, Apple has also committed to broadening browser choices for EU users, allowing them to opt out of using the Safari browser.