14 Aug 202015:32 CEST+02:00Apple has banned Fortnite from its App Store, which prohibits players from downloading one of the most popular games on iPhones in the world.
14 Aug 2020
15:32 CEST+02:00
This came after a Fortnite update allowing players to buy in-game currencies at a lower rate if they bought directly from Epic Games manufacturer-bypassing Apple.
Epic seemed to realize that the ban was imminent, announcing that he had lodged a legal complaint minutes after the withdrawal.
Apple takes from its compulsory payment system a standard 30 percent reduction in sales.
Hours later, Google also appeared to remove the app from its Google Play Store-though it remains available on Android phones by other means, such as the launcher owned by Epic Games.
On iOS, the only way to load apps legitimately is through the App Store. But Apple said Epic took the "unfortunate step of breaching the guidelines for the App Store."
These guidelines prohibit any payment system besides Apple's own, and have been the subject of several high-profile rows between developers and Apple.
Epic said any players with an iPhone that already has the app installed should be able to continue playing until the next update rolls out. They will lose some of the features after that.
Those on an Apple Mac computer will not be affected, since the iOS App Store is not used in that version.
In addition to tweeting the lawsuit it filed in a California court, Epic also announced the imminent in-game screening of a short film titled Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite-a play on the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell.
The novel is about a dystopian society that controls its citizens and does not tolerate any dissent-and was itself referenced by Apple in a famous television advertisement in 1984 when the young company styled itself as assuming IBM at the time.
With the launch of its Epic Games Store, Epic Games has already tried to disrupt the PC gaming market by taking on the dominant player, Steam, in an attempt to lure free games players away, which have often been popular, top-rated titles.
In a statement, Apple said the rules were applied equally to every developer, and that Epic had updated their game "with the express intent of violating the App Store guidelines".
"The fact that their business interests now lead them to push for a special arrangement doesn't alter the fact that these guidelines create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users."
Also added that it would try to work with Epic to bring back Fortnite.
Apple digs in over its App Store fees
What happened?
Fortnite's latest update offered all players a 20 percent discount on their V-bucks in-game currency-but only if they paid Epic Games directly instead of using payment systems from Apple or Google.
What is in the court case?
Documents available through the U.S. court records system show that in a California court, Epic Games filed a complaint against Google, just like it did against Apple.
"Google has relegated its motto to almost an afterthought and is using its size to do evil to competitors, innovators, customers, and users in a slew of markets that it has become a monopoly," it says.
What does Epic want?
Epic Games says it wants the mobile app stores changed to be fairer for all developers.
Both in court documents from Apple and Google, it says it's not seeking a compensation payout or a more favorable deal for itself.
Read Also
What does Apple say?
Apple said in a statement: "Epic has had apps on the App Store for a decade, and has benefited from the ecosystem of the App Store-including the tools, research, and delivery that Apple offers to all developers.
Can I get unbanned from Fortnite?
"Epic freely agreed with the terms and guidelines of the App Store and we are delighted that they have built such a successful business on the App Store. The fact that their business interests are now leading them to push for a special arrangement doesn't change the fact that these guidelines create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users.
"We will make every action to fix these violations with Awesome, so they can return Fortnite to the App Store."
