Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has accused Apple of attempting to sabotage the diplomatic relationship between the United States and Brazil, escalating a long-running battle over access to the iOS app market in the South American country.
Sweeney made the remarks during a virtual press conference with Brazilian journalists on Thursday, July 30, according to reporting by Folha de São Paulo. The Epic chief claimed that Apple is “trying to destroy the good relations between our countries [Brazil and the U.S.] to preserve its ability to continue violating the law and charging illegal fees.”
Pressure on U.S.-Brazil Relations
The Epic CEO alleged that Apple has been lobbying U.S. government officials, particularly the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), to retaliate against Brazil. “Apple is violating the law in Brazil, and its allies in the U.S. government, especially at the USTR, are constantly threatening these important international partners,” Sweeney said.
The reference points to recent tariff increases on Brazilian products that took effect on July 22, which the USTR had proposed as punishment for Brazilian practices related to digital trade and payment services. Sweeney characterized the tariffs as Apple-driven retaliation following a landmark decision by Brazil’s antitrust authority, the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE).
The CADE Ruling and iOS Opening
In December 2025, CADE formed a majority to require Apple to open the iOS platform to alternative app stores in Brazil. Apple only implemented the change with the release of iOS 26.5 in mid-June, more than six months after the ruling.
The dispute between Epic and Apple dates back several years, with high-profile lawsuits across multiple jurisdictions that have reshaped the global mobile software distribution landscape.
Fees, Friction, and “Spyware” Allegations
Epic launched its own app store for iOS in Brazil on Thursday, but Sweeney criticized the conditions Apple imposed. The rules require third-party storefronts to pay Apple 21% on transactions processed through external payment systems, 15% on web purchases initiated from within an app, and 5% of gross revenue for any virtual store installed on Apple devices.
“Common payment services charge 2% or 3%. That’s the real cost of processing payments. Apple more than doubles that and charges a fee without doing anything to justify it,” Sweeney said.
He also complained that Brazilian iPhone users must navigate nine separate steps to install an external app store, compared with just six steps in Europe. “Apple has the world’s best interface designers. When Apple wants to create a great interface, it succeeds spectacularly. So when you see Apple create a bad one, you know it’s intentional and serves the company’s commercial interests, not any legitimate reason,” Sweeney argued.
Epic’s Brazilian storefront launched with only two titles — Rocket League Sideswipe and Fortnite, both developed by Epic itself. Sweeney attributed the limited catalog to Apple’s technical and contractual demands, including what he called a “spyware” requirement.
“Apple demands that developers install a kind of ‘spyware’ that sends back to the company all information about commercial transactions carried out in third-party stores,” Sweeney claimed. “First, integrating this ‘spyware’ is a lot of work, so many developers simply don’t want to do it. Second, many have moral objections to allowing Apple to monitor transactions between them and their customers.”
Sweeney said Epic will petition CADE to review the obstacles Apple has placed in front of alternative app stores.
Apple Responds
In a statement to Folha de São Paulo, Apple called Sweeney’s claims false and said it remains committed to supporting Brazilian developers. The company pointed to an agreement it reached with CADE that provides reduced commissions and allows alternative payment methods and distribution channels. Apple also said it collaborates with national regulators to preserve important safeguards in the digital environment.
Regarding the “spyware” accusation, Apple stated that the label is incorrect. The company requires accurate sales reporting for transactions that generate payments for technology use and third-party services — a requirement it said applies equally to apps distributed through its official store.
The standoff underscores the ongoing tensions between Apple and third-party developers as regulatory bodies around the world push the tech giant to loosen its grip on mobile ecosystems. With Epic now operating its own storefront in Brazil — albeit under restrictive conditions — the battle over app market access is far from over.
Source: Tecmundo
