Fortnite
Epic Games is more productively known for the virtual wars players have in their successful Game Fortnite, but the company is preparing for a genuine war opposed to two of the biggest weapons in the tech industry.
This week, Epic sued Apple and Google after its Fortnite app started at their respective app outlets for violating express guidelines. Multiplayer survival game, shoot-em-up, Fortnite is loose but offers in-app purchases. And that’s where the challenge lies.
Apple and Google get a 30% reduction on both and both acquire at their app outlets, whether they’re apps or in-app features. With the argument that this relief implies higher prices for users, Epic has tried to go through app outlets by promoting V-Bucks for in-app acquisitions for Fortnite directly to customers.
Apple said the resolution violated the App Store guidelines, so it got rid of Fortnite’s store, leading to a lawsuit from Epic. Google also got rid of the Google Play game for similar reasons, prompting a lawsuit against the Android giant.
So now Epic is discovered in a legal war with two of the toughest tech players in the world.
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By revealing its original goal on its online page before the App Store’s eliminations and demands, Epic said it introduces a new way to pay the V-Bucks for Fortnite’s latest update via iOS and Android: epic direct payment. By promoting direct payment address as a charge saver, Epic said consumers would save 20% in this direction, bringing the V-Bucks to $9.99 through Apple and $7.99 through direct payment.
“Currently, when Apple and Google payment options, Apple and Google charge a 30% fee, and the drop in value of up to 20% doesn’t apply,” Epic said. “If Apple or Google lowers your payout fees in the future, Epic will give you the benefits.”
But this resolution of offering direct payment is what first caused disruption to Epic with Apple, which on Thursday got rid of Fortnite’s App Store.
“Today, Epic Games took the unfortunate resolution of violating App Store rules that are implemented in the same way for all developers and are designed to ensure some store security for our users,” Apple said in a shared statement on TechRepublic’s sister site, ZDNet. “As a result, your Fortnite app has been removed from the store. Epic has activated a feature of its app that has not been reviewed or approved by Apple, and they did so with the explicit goal of violating App Store rules for invoices through the app that apply to all developers who sell virtual goods or services.”
In response, Epic temporarily filed a complaint against Apple. In its lawsuit, Epic stated that it was not seeking a financial refund or a special remedy for itself, but was seeking relief to allow a festival right in key markets that directly charges millions of consumers and tens of thousands of third-party app developers.
“Apple imposes unreasonable and illegal restrictions to monopolize absolutely any of the markets and prevent software developers from calling more than one billion users of their mobile devices (e.g. iPhone and iPad) unless they pass through an Apple-controlled single store, the App Store, where Apple imposes an oppressive tax of 30% on the sale of the app. , accused Array of Epic at his trial.
Soon after, Google intervened in Fortnite from its Google Play store, also for violating its rules after Epic presented Android users with a direct payment option for their V-Bucks.
“The open Android ecosystem allows developers to distribute apps across multiple app stores,” Google said in a shared statement with TechRepublic. “For game developers who choose to use the Play Store, we have consistent policies that are fair to developers and ensure store security for users. Although Fortnite is still available on Android, we can no longer do so on Play because it violates our policies. Array However, we are pleased to be able to continue our discussions with Epic and bring Fortnite back to Google Play.”
And just as quickly, Epic sued Google, claiming that the company was engaging in monopolistic and anti-competitive movements through the restrictions of its Google Play store. In its lawsuit against Google, Epic Back stated that it was not seeking a monetary refund or a special agreement or a favorable remedy from the company. Instead, Epic said it was looking for an open and competitive Android ecosystem for users and industry participants.
“Google has eliminated the festival in the distribution of Android programs through a myriad of contractual and technical obstacles,” Epic said in demand. “Google’s moves are forcing app developers and customers to scale in Google’s monopoly app store, the Google Play Store. Google uses this monopoly force to impose a tax that diverts monopoly profits to itself every time an app developer deals with a customer for the sale of an app or virtual content embedded in the app.”
In its battle, Epic has also tried to bring together troops in the form of consumers and users who now have no way to download Fortnite on their iOS and Android devices unless they have downloaded it before. On their website, the game’s author has created a page with the hashtag #FreeFortnite and a FAQ criticizing Apple for its actions. Epic also invented a fast video called Nineteen-Eighty Fortnite, a parody of Apple’s well-known 1984 commercial, but this time with the iPhone manufacturer as the villain.
While Fortnite’s efforts seem to be the efforts of David vs. Two Goliaths, this is the first time Apple and Google have been accused of monopolizing their markets.
In July 2020, Apple CEO Tim Cook called Congress to answer questions about the company’s alleged monopoly on smartphones and mobile apps. By claiming that Apple does not have a dominant percentage in any market, Cook defended the fees Apple charges for purchases on the App Store, calling them below the maximum of its competitors.
Apple has also promoted its App Store as a secure position where apps are verified before they suit users. And he constantly pointed out the benefits that app developers get, even after 30% commission.
But other app developers have criticized Apple for its commissions and purchasing policies, complaining that the App Store is the only viable approach to distributing apps for iPhone and iPad. And many of those developers will be more than satisfied to sign up for the epic fight, at least in spirit.
Google’s App Store is rarely so strict. Google allows other app outlets on Android devices, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Store and Amazon Appstore. But developers who pass through the official Google Play store are subject to the fees and policies imposed through Google, which are often restrictive.
Some kind of compromise would be of interest to all parties, reassuring app developers and making Apple and Google more typographical, especially for regulators interested in taking strong action against businesses. But either corporation has a deep portfolio and dear lawyers and is used to fighting in the legal realm. Changing your store’s policies and commissions can set a damaging precedent, so Apple and Google are likely to fight it if needed.
Lance Whitney is an independent generation editor and teacher and former IT professional. He has written for Time, CNET, PCMag and several other publications. It is that of two technical books, one on Windows and one on LinkedIn.