Australia’s competition regulator has moved to intervene in the high-stakes legal battle between Epic Games and Apple which highlights a deeper regulatory push into digital market dominance.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has secured approval to participate in ongoing Federal Court proceedings, which are now focused on determining remedies following earlier findings on anti-competitive conduct.
The dispute is part of a broader global confrontation between Epic Games, developer of Fortnite, and Apple over the iPhone maker’s control of app distribution and in-app payment systems
A crucial part of the case is Apple’s App Store rules, which restrict developers from offering alternative payment options outside its ecosystem.
In 2025, the Federal Court ruled that Apple had misused its market power in Australia’s app distribution and payments market revealing a significant test of competition enforcement in the digital economy.
With liability established, attention has shifted to remedies, a phase that could have far-reaching implications for how Apple operates its App Store in Australia.
The ACCC’s intervention is expected to shape the court’s approach, particularly around measures that could open up the platform to greater competition.
Epic Games has already reached a global settlement with Google in a related case, but its dispute with Apple remains unresolved.
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