Get to know all about the fallout between Epic Games and Apple and the removal of Fortnite from Apple App Store and Google Play.
It all started when Epic Games decided to include a direct in-game payment option called “Epic direct payment” in the iOS and Android versions of Fortnite. They planned on circumventing the App Store and Playstore’s official IAP mechanisms in benefit for the users by cutting down on the cost the user pays for the IAPs by bypassing the 30% store fees.
To this Apple retaliated by removing Fortnite from their App Store stating, “Today, Epic Games took the unfortunate step of violating the App Store guidelines that are applied equally to every developer and designed to keep the store safe for our users, ”
Epic Games quickly pronounced that it had filed legal papers against Apple regarding the matter and focused on lines such as,” But for Apple's restrictions, would-be competing app distributors, such as Epic, could develop and offer iOS-compatible app stores, thereby providing consumers and developers choice beyond Apple's own App Store and injecting healthy competition into the market”.
Epic is not seeking monetary compensation for the injuries it has suffered. Nor is Epic deeking favourable treatment for itself, a single company.” Stated Epic Games as per their lawsuit, “Instead, Epic is seeking injunctive relief to allow fair competition in these two key markets that directly affect hundreds of millions of consumers and tens of thousands, if no more, of third party app developers.”
Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite - #FreeFortnite Short
Epic Games also announced a new Short Film titles Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite, which is based on the Apple’s 1984 Commercial for the Apple Macintosh Personal Computer.
Following this Google has also pulled Fortnite from Google Play stating, “While Fortnite remains available on Android, we can no longer make it available on Play because it violates our policies. However, we welcome the opportunity to continue our discussions with Epic and bring Fortnite back to Google Play.”
Update - Epic Games files lawsuit against Google
Now, after the removal of Fortnite from Google Play Store, Epic Games has also filed a legal lawsuit against Google Claiming that Google Eliminates, “competition in the distribution of Android apps using myriad contractual and technical barriers.”
Epic Games’ lawsuit also states, “ Google’s actions force app developers and consumers into Google’s own monopolized ‘app store’ – the Google Play Store. Google has thus installed itself as an unavoidable middleman for app developers who wish to reach Android users and vice versa.”
It remains to be seen what this situation would unfold and we’ll bring updates regarding this matter in future Updates.
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