• This fee was originally charged to cover Apple’s Core Technology Fee for app installations
• Epic’s grant allows an app store that’s delivering their games go free-of-charge

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EU third-party iOS app store AltStore PAL has dropped its yearly €1.50 subscription fee following a “MegaGrant” from Epic Games. 

This fee was previously a necessity for the app as it was charged that amount to cover Apple’s Core Technology Fee for app installations. In order to provide its service, AltStore PAL was forced to pass this fee onto prospective downloaders and, while a small amount, it’s likely that it was a block for those who demand everything for free.

Well, now such obstacles have gone and AltStore PAL is truly free, thanks to their good friends at Epic Games.

Epic states that its MegaGrant is to support the development of innovative projects that might lack sufficient funding. Although this is typically aimed at smaller teams using Epic’s technologies, AltStore wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that it was given the grant for its innovation in app distribution.

Now AltStore will not charge current subscribers upon renewal and plans to show appreciation to these early adopters in a future update. 

Meanwhile, Epic, in other rather connected news, has finally pushed the Epic Games Store for mobile live, bearing the much hoped for Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe and a Fall Guys exclusive – all of which will now appear on AltStore too.

Epic [hearts] AltStore PAL

AltStore PAL operates in a legally grey area but has managed to gain approval from Apple despite its unconventional approach thanks to the shifting rules regarding Apple’s suspected monopoly on iOS app availiability.

Now, with support from Apple’s arch enemies Epic Games, AltStore PAL is free. AltStore joins Epic’s own Games Store for mobile offering Epic’s (currently) three-game line-up. Meaning that this new funding looks like the perfect execution of an Apple-thwarting pincer-movement plan.

Among AltStore PAL’s other notable offerings is the controversial Delta game emulator which recently became the the No.1 on the App Store’s download ranking in 35 countries with over 44 million downloads despite it questionably allowing valuable Nintendo IP to be played for free.