Is there a bigger royal between Apple and Fortnite?
The popular game will no longer be available for download through the Apple App Store after the Epic Games publisher announced a direct payment option for mobile players on Thursday.
An App Store search through USA TODAY showed that Fortnite cannot be downloaded.
At USA TODAY, Apple showed Fortnite’s removal from the App Store for violating App Store guidelines.
“Epic has activated a feature of its app that has not been reviewed or approved through Apple, and did so with the explicit goal of violating App Store rules related to invoices through the app that apply to each and every developer who sells virtual products. or services,” Apple said in a statement.
The game is available for download on Google Play starting Thursday afternoon.
In response, Epic Games revealed that it had filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court. In California, claiming that Apple had imposed “unreasonable restrictions” on how it handles the app’s bills.
“Apple has become what it once complained about: the monster looking for markets, blocks festivals and suppresses innovation,” reads in an excerpt from the complaint. “Apple is bigger, more powerful, more ingrained and more pernicious than the monopolies of yesteryear.”
The publisher also mocked a new short film called “Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite”, which turns out to usurp Apple’s old commercial “1984”.
The payment formula would allow cell phone players to enter the industry in Fortnite without going through the App Store or Google Play. The publisher stated that cell phone players get a 20% reduction when they pay Epic.
“Currently, when Apple and Google payment options, Apple and Google charge a 30% fee, and the drop in value by up to 20% doesn’t apply,” reads an Epic Games article released Thursday. “If Apple or Google lowers your payout fees in the future, Epic will give you the benefits.”
In its statement, Apple said it would work with Epic to bring Fortnite back to the App Store.
“Epic has freely accepted the terms and rules of the App Store and we are pleased that they have built such a successful business in the App Store,” says Apple. “The fact that their business interests now lead them to push for a special agreement does not replace the fact that those rules create a dot game box for all developers and make the store safe for all users.”
Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: ‘brettmolina23’.