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Fortnite: Apple Ban Sparks Court Action From Epic Games

Fortnite: Apple ban sparks court action from Epic Games



13 August 2020



Apple has removed Fortnite (from its App Store) and has stopped players from installing the game that is so popular around the world on their iPhones.



It was released following a Fortnite update that let players purchase currency in the game at a lower rate if they bought direct from maker Epic Games - bypassing Apple.



Epic seemed to be aware of the ban and announced that it had filed a complaint within minutes.



Apple uses a standard 30 percent cut of its sales generated by its payment system that is mandatory.



After a few hours, Google also appeared to remove the app from its Google Play Store however it's still accessible on Android phones via other methods like Epic Games' own launcher.



The App Store is the only way to legally install apps on iOS. However, Apple stated that Epic had taken the "unfortunate step of violating App Store's guidelines".



Those guidelines ban any payment system that isn't Apple's, and has been the focus of several high-profile rows between developers and Apple.



Epic stated that iPhone players with the app installed should be able to continue playing until the game's next update comes out. After that, they will be unable to access certain features.



Users who use an Apple Mac computer won't be affected as they don't use the iOS App Store.



In addition to tweeting the legal complaint it filed in the California court, Epic also announced the scheduled in-game presentation of a short movie titled Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite - an adaptation of George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.



The novel portrays a dystopian society in which the citizens are controlled and allow no opposition. Apple also referenced the novel in a television ad from 1984 , claiming to be competing with IBM.



According to court documents, Apple has a monopoly on deciding which apps are available on iPhones and also on requesting its own payment system. This is a 30% cut.



Piers Harding-Rolls, games research director at Ampere Analysis, said Epic's update that violated the rules "was designed to cause Apple remove the app".



"Removing Fortnite from the App Store will create an outpouring of support for Epic which is something that it is attempting to do."



He also said that iPhones aren't the best platform for Fortnite however Epic will still be aware of its ban as the iOS version "generates thousands of millions of dollars in revenue each month on Apple platforms", he added.



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This cost is not well-liked by developers. A 30% reduction in profits is considered an attack on developers by many.



One app developer A developer of an app compared Apple to the mafia last month. This is a fundamentally anti-competition stance.



Apple and Google operate the operating systems for pretty much all of the phones in the world. This means they can choose who can run apps in their stores and which can't.



They also have the power to set the charges. Some developers call this duopoly.



Epic Games however, has an unwelcome enemy: Apple.



Fortnite is insanely profitable. Epic Games has the money to pay Apple. The way it has been carried out, passing on the savings on to the consumer, is clearly tactical. Epic Games wants to take this fight to the wide world.



And with the EU and US Congress scrutinizing Apple's business practices, this is attention the company could do without.



Epic declared in a court filing it was not seeking financial compensation.



"Epic is seeking injunctive relief to allow fair competition in these two important markets that directly affect hundreds of millions of consumers and tens of thousands if not more of app developers from third parties," it said.



These documents also hint at a bigger goal.



It says that Epic will offer a competing app store for iOS devices to Apple's illegal restrictions.



Epic Games has already attempted to disrupt the PC gaming market through the launch of its Epic Games Store, taking on the leading player, Steam, in an attempt to entice players away with games for free, which have often been well-known, top-rated games.



Piers Harding-Rolls claimed that the row is similar of the same challenge - Epic charges game developers 12 percent for PC games, whereas Steam charges 30 percent.



He claimed that Apple and Google were the long-term targets of Epic CEO Tim Sweeney's anger because he believes that the 30 percent revenue share they charge for in-game monetisation and app sales is too high.



"However it is true that taking on Apple is a different challenge than the PC market because it's difficult to build a third-party storefront on iOS or even to charge for apps outside of the App Store."
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Google's Android system utilizes Google's payment system to buy apps. Google takes a cut, but Android allows developers and users to use other payment options.



In a statement, Apple said the rules were equally applied to all developer, and they claimed that Epic had modified their game "with the explicit intent of violating the App Store guidelines".



It said that Epic has been using the App Store for over a decade and has benefited from the App Marketplace.



"The fact that their business interests make them push for a specific arrangement does not alter the fact that these guidelines provide a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users."



It also stated that Epic would be working with them to bring Fortnite back.



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