The United Kingdom introduced new rules on transparency in applied shops, which Epic criticized as “unresolved fundamental anticompetitive issues”.
The British Competition and Market Authority has today outlined a series of measures aimed at “enhancing the fairness of the application store process and iOS interoperability”. These commitments, however, are more focused on application shop processes and transparency and do not oblige apples and Google to open their app stores in the United Kingdom, unlike the government decisions that have taken place in the European Union, the United States and elsewhere this year.
Epic Gomes therefore countered the proposal. The Epic News account responds on social media: “The commitment of Apple and Google to the British Competition and Market Authority has failed to open mobile application ecosystems to true competition. Gatekeepers continue to discourage competitive application of shops and payment systems through direct bans, intimidating tips and waste charges. Epic’s post continues: “The agreed change will not correct the core anticompetitive business practices that are being addressed by United States courts and the EU. The British Competition and Market Authority must prioritize these barriers to competition in order for British consumers to reap the benefits of genuine competition that everyone deserves.”
The British Competition and Market Authority indicated that Apple and Google had each committed themselves to making their application audits, application rankings, search and data collection processes more transparent to ensure that developers of competitive applications were treated fairly. Both companies also agreed that developers could more easily request “interoperability” and communicate with developers in a more transparent manner. The government agency indicated that the new transparency commitment would enter into force on 1 April 2026, as detailed in reference industry feedback. Application developers can submit their comments on the proposal through the UK Competition and Market Authority website by 3 March 2026. The British Competition and Market Authority also referred to its ongoing further work with Apple and Google on the application of distribution and guidance and pledged to update the progress of these dialogues in the first half of the year.
Last year, a United States judge ruled that apples must lift all restrictions on the manner in which United States clients are paid. This additional freedom took effect in May 2025. At the same time, the EU Digital Markets Act forced apples to open their App Store to competition, despite the manner in which it was implemented to displeasure many developers. Google has allowed the use of competitive shops on global Android equipment and has provided payment process options in some markets, although these have indeed been accompanied by what Epic likes to call “intimidatory tips”.
