Epic Games Store Goes Live on iPhone in Brazil With Fortnite and Rocket League
Epic Games has switched on its own app store for iPhone owners in Brazil, making the country the third market worldwide — after the European Union and Japan — where the Epic Games Store can be installed directly on iOS. Fortnite and Rocket League Sideswipe are the launch titles, and the store went live on Thursday.
The launch follows a Brazilian competition ruling that forced Apple to open iOS to app stores it does not run itself. Apple began allowing alternative distribution in the country last month, and Epic is the first major publisher to take it up.
Who can actually install it
Eligibility is narrower than the headline suggests, and three limits matter:
- Brazil only. Your device has to be set to a Brazilian account and region. Travelling with a foreign Apple Account will not open the door.
- iPhone only. Unlike the EU, where alternative stores also work on iPad, the Brazilian rollout does not cover iPadOS.
- iOS 26.5 or newer. Anything older will not run the store. If you are behind, the current public build is iOS 26.6, which clears the bar comfortably.
How the installation works
Installing a non-Apple store is not a one-tap affair. The flow, in order:
- Open the Epic Games Store page in Safari on the iPhone and tap Install.
- iOS interrupts and sends you into Settings to allow Epic as a marketplace source.
- Confirm by double-pressing the side button and authenticating with Face ID or Touch ID.
- Return and tap Open to finish, then install Fortnite from inside the store.
Epic counts that sequence at nine separate steps and has been openly critical of it, arguing in published comments that the friction is deliberate and designed to blunt competition from rival storefronts. It is worth keeping the source of that framing in mind: Epic is a party to the regulatory fight, not a neutral observer. That said, the EU offers a useful comparison — the equivalent flow there started at roughly 15 steps and was later cut to about six after regulators pushed back, which suggests the count is a policy choice rather than a technical floor.
The 20 percent that only exists outside the App Store
The clearest reason for a Brazilian player to bother is money. Purchases made through the Epic Games Store carry 20 percent back in Epic Rewards, credit that can be spent on later purchases. Epic says it cannot offer that same deal to Brazilian players inside Apple's App Store, because App Store rules restrict promotions of this kind.
For a heavy Fortnite spender, that is a real difference on every V-Bucks or Battle Pass purchase. For a casual player who never spends, it changes nothing — Fortnite itself is free either way, and progress is tied to your Epic account rather than to the store you installed it from.
What you get beyond the two games
Two first-party titles is a thin catalogue on its own, but Fortnite is the real payload. Through Unreal Editor for Fortnite, the game acts as a container for a very large body of player-built islands — Epic puts the figure at more than 345,000 — so the install gives access to far more than the battle royale mode. The game is currently in its Runners season.
Rocket League Sideswipe, the mobile version of the car-football game, rounds out the launch line-up. Epic has not published a timeline for adding third-party publishers to the iOS store in Brazil.
Should you switch stores?
If you already play Fortnite on an iPhone in Brazil, moving to Epic's store buys you the rewards credit and nothing else you will notice day to day. If you do not spend money in the game, the extra installation work is hard to justify.
One practical note for anyone setting up a fresh Epic account in the process: your friends list and online status carry across platforms, so it is worth reviewing your privacy settings — our guide to appearing offline on Epic Games covers the options.
The wider signal matters more than the launch itself. Brazil is now a live test of whether alternative iPhone stores attract anyone once the legal argument is settled, and regulators elsewhere will be reading the numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install the Epic Games Store on my iPhone outside Brazil?
Only if you are in the European Union or Japan, which already allow it. The Brazilian launch is tied to a Brazilian account and region setting, so simply travelling there with a foreign Apple Account will not work. There is no announced date for other countries.
Which iOS version do I need for the Epic Games Store?
iOS 26.5 or later. Older releases cannot install alternative marketplaces at all, so update from Settings before you start. The current public release, iOS 26.6, meets the requirement.
Does the Epic Games Store work on iPad in Brazil?
No. The Brazilian rollout is iPhone-only, which is a narrower scope than the European Union, where alternative stores also run on iPadOS. Epic has not said whether iPad support will follow.
Is Fortnite free through the Epic Games Store on iPhone?
Yes, the game itself is free to download either way. The difference is that purchases made through Epic's store return 20 percent in Epic Rewards credit, a promotion Epic says it cannot offer to Brazilian players inside the App Store.
Will my Fortnite progress carry over if I reinstall from Epic's store?
Yes. Progress, cosmetics and purchases are tied to your Epic account rather than to the store you downloaded the game from. Sign in with the same account and everything should appear as before.
