Apple has pulled Fortnite from iOS’ App Store, citing a new system that would allow users to circumvent Apple’s payment system (and subsequent 30% cut of sales).
The technology giant said the system — in which users would also pay less for V-Bucks than the traditional iOS system — was “not reviewed or approved by Apple” and that the popular battle royale would return to the App Store when removed. In reply, Epic has turned to the courts to attack Apple and its “anti-competitive restrictions”.
“Fast forward to 2020, and Apple has become what it once railed against: the behemoth seeking to control markets, block competition, and stifle innovation. Apple is bigger, more powerful, more entrenched, and more pernicious than the monopolists of yesteryear,” a statement from Epic’s lawsuit reads. “At a market cap of nearly $2 trillion, Apple’s size and reach far exceed that of any technology monopolist in history.”
Epic even went as far to release a parody video of Apple’s own, infamous “1984” ad. In the original, Apple wanted to show users they could break away from an oppressive, Big Brother-like society. Now in 2020, Epic alleges that Apple’s the company trying to benefit from just a system.
Epic’s attack comes at the same time Microsoft has lashed out at Apple over restrictive conditions that seem to benefit Apple over anyone else.
“Our testing period for the Project xCloud preview app for iOS has expired,” Microsoft said when it confirmed its cloud streaming app, xCloud, would only be available on Android for the forseeable future.
“Unfortunately, we do not have a path to bring our vision of cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to gamers on iOS via the Apple App Store. Apple stands alone as the only general purpose platform to deny consumers from cloud gaming and game subscription services like Xbox Game Pass. And it consistently treats gaming apps differently, applying more lenient rules to non-gaming apps even when they include interactive content.”
We’ll keep you informed as this situation progresses. Those who have Fortnite installed on iOS devices are still able to play the game (at least, for now).
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