Apple Disabling 'Sign in with Apple' for Epic Games on September 11 [Updated]

[MacRumors]

Now that Epic Games' developer account has been terminated, Apple is also ending access to other services, such as Sign in with Apple. According to Epic Games, Apple will no longer let users sign in to Epic Games using Sign in with Apple as of September 11, which is in two days.

Epic says that customers who use Sign in with Apple to access their Epic Games accounts should make sure their email and password are up to date, and the company is offering an FAQ on how to update an account email address and password so Epic Games users don't lose access to their accounts.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1303716447831707649

Customers who do not update to a standard email address and password will not be able to log in to their accounts, but after September 11, those who did not transition from Sign in with Apple may be able to contact Epic Games to have their accounts recovered manually.

Sign in with Apple is a feature that allows Apple device users to sign in to accounts and services using their Apple ID, with that info obscured from the website or service for privacy purposes. It's similar to Google and Facebook account sign in options, but with Apple promising greater privacy through options like Hide My Email.

The feature was introduced as part of iOS 13 and apps and services have been adopting it since then. Apple requires any app that uses Google and Facebook login options to also offer Sign in with Apple.

Update: According to Epic Games, Apple is providing an "indefinite extension" and will not be ending access to Sign in With Apple.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1304161432888643584

Article Link: Apple Disabling 'Sign in with Apple' for Epic Games on September 11 [Updated]

 

[cocky jeremy]

LOL. Good. Kill them off, Apple!

 

[TheSkywalker77]

Wonder why they chose the 11th.

 

[GizmoDVD]

Sounds good. They no longer have an account for trying to by-pass a signed contract, so they deserve all of this.

Tim Epic will have a great time at his next job delivering pizzas.

 

[Rudy69]

I bet Epic is really starting to regret their decision.

They could have reached out to other large companies and negotiated with Apple as a coalition and I'm willing to bet they would have had much better results.

 

[jahall05]

Sounds like it would have been much smarter to revert the change to the app back to in app payments with Apple and then fight it in court. How many users are going to now get locked out and not care to be bothered calling to get back in and just find a new toy to play with?

I guess this does all hinge on whether or not Sign In with Apple was popular or not though.

 

[arn]

Hmm... does add some risk to the whole Sign in with Apple thing.

 

[dguisinger]

This just reminds other developers that if they rely on too many Apple services, Apple can kneel on their necks anytime they want..... it really feels more like intimidation efforts towards other developers at this point to keep them in line.

 

[Kkspire]

Apples hurting me!! help me! - billion dollar company selling virtual coins to kids.

 

[GizmoDVD]

This just reminds other developers that if they rely on too many Apple services, Apple can kneel on their necks anytime they want..... it really feels more like intimidation efforts towards other developers at this point to keep them in line.

It's a feature Apple offers. Epic Games is no longer a developer because they breached their contract. I don't see the problem in this. Anyone with an App likely will continue paying their $99 a year unless, ya know, they breach their contract and hotfix in a way to bypass Apples payment systems.

 

[rjohnstone]

I've had a lot of problems with "Sign in with Apple" for several products. Sometimes it works, most of the time it doesn't.
I don't see this as a setback or real punishment for Epic.

 

[dguisinger]

It's a feature Apple offers. Epic Games is no longer a developer because they breached their contract. I don't see the problem in this. Anyone with an App likely will continue paying their $99 a year unless, ya know, they breach their contract and hotfix in a way to bypass Apples payment systems.

I'm not stupid, I get that. But understand other developers are watching. Developers have been blocked from the store for extremely stupid reasons in the past, do you think they see this and think "Oh, it would be smart of me to use Sign in with Apple and give Apple even more control of our users"?

 

[forcesteeler]

Epic Makes Billions of Dollars.This is what happens when your too greedy
Greed Kills

Just pay apple there 30%, Who Cares ?

Now you get 0

 

[Andropov]

I've been more or less siding with Apple on the whole Epic Games thing but this is the first measure I've seen that I kind of disagree with. It feels like it targets users rather than Epic as a whole.

 

[Duane Martin]

This just reminds other developers that if they rely on too many Apple services, Apple can kneel on their necks anytime they want..... it really feels more like intimidation efforts towards other developers at this point to keep them in line.

Apple's approach here feels a step-too-far as it is likely to affect Apple customers negatively in a way that they can only be linked directly back to Apple. That and the precedent being set, as stated in a previous post, that Sign in with Apple is possibly not as reliable as other options.

Hopefully Apple rethinks escalating in this way. I cannot see how this does not start to look like Apple is willing to sacrifice customer experience to make a point I believe has already been made. Move it to the courts to be settled.

 

[GizmoDVD]

I'm not stupid, I get that. But understand other developers are watching. Developers have been blocked from the store for extremely stupid reasons in the past, do you think they see this and think "Oh, it would be smart of me to use Sign in with Apple and give Apple even more control of our users"?

Do you think those other developers are in the same boat as Epic?

 

[Scipster]

Hmm... does add some risk to the whole Sign in with Apple thing.

Totally agree! It's one of the reasons why I choose to make accounts with each service/vendor instead of signing in with Apple, Google, or Facebook. More control over account access and security!

 

[recoil80]

Hmm... does add some risk to the whole Sign in with Apple thing.

Yeah. If I use sign with Apple I may be cut off by Apple.
I mean, if I'm a small developer and they remove my app I'm screwed anyway, but after this decision a bigger company may postpone the adoption of sign with Apple.

I'm not siding with Epic on this legal dispute, but I don't like Apple's response, particularly as a developer.
They pointed out that Epic uses their API, the store, was reviewed many times so is like Apple wasted time with them. I'm a developer too, and I have free apps on the store (free apps, no digital content sold), does this mean I have no value for Apple? The very existence of apps (not talking about my apps of course) is what makes the iPhone a great device.
Maybe their stance is needed for the legal battle, but is really bad PR.

 

[GadgetBen]

Hmm... does add some risk to the whole Sign in with Apple thing.

Yep and it’s frustrating that you can’t include a logo of your web app (like other sign in services) unless you have your web app in the App Store as well.

Effectively, Apple don’t support web apps properly.

 

[GizmoDVD]

Apple's approach here feels a step-too-far as it is likely to affect Apple customers negatively in a way that they can only be linked directly back to Apple. That and the precedent being set, as stated in a previous post, that Sign in with Apple is possibly not as reliable as other options.

Hopefully Apple rethinks escalating in this way. I cannot see how this does not start to look like Apple is willing to sacrifice customer experience to make a point I believe has already been made. Move it to the courts to be settled.

Fortnite is no longer an App available in the App store because of Epics actions. Why should Apple continue to support a game they receive $0 from?

Is the game even really playable on IOS anymore?

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

To all you Apple pros stating that epic broke contract etc. I bet every sum in the universe - everyone of you has broken some rules or contract on purpose or by chance.
Do you guys really wanna live in a world where companies more and more dictate great parts of our lives because of their ‚rules‘ or ‚contracts‘.
I am even almost sure no one ever read and understand the whole Apple AGBs you have to accept using their software, etc.

It’s an App Store not the UNO, Apple is defending just profit not anything of real worth or value.

please consider this in your evaluation and statements!

and also consider if I leave Apple which I already tried I can only go to google - so you consider that really as an option? We have here a situation where the USA has established a worldwide duopoly - you can’t get away, so the minimum would be some kind of choice whom you flip your coins!

 

[4jasontv]

I'm not stupid, I get that. But understand other developers are watching. Developers have been blocked from the store for extremely stupid reasons in the past, do you think they see this and think "Oh, it would be smart of me to use Sign in with Apple and give Apple even more control of our users"?

They don't have to use Sign in with Apple, but that means they have build their own sign in service. They can't just use Facebook or Google instead. I can't speak for others but if an App requires me to create an account with them then they better have a really good reason - and we don't want to offer Sign In With Apple isn't a good one.

 

[GizmoDVD]

To all you Apple pros stating that epic broke contract etc. I bet every sum in the universe - everyone of you has broken some rules or contract on purpose or by chance.
Do you guys really wanna live in a world where companies more and more dictate great parts of our lives because of their ‚rules‘ or ‚contracts‘.
I am even almost sure no one ever read and understand the whole Apple AGBs you have to accept using their software, etc.

It’s an App Store not the UNO, Apple is defending just profit not anything of real worth or value.

please consider this in your evaluation and statements!

and also consider if I leave Apple which I already tried I can only go to google - so you consider that really as an option? We have here a situation where the USA has established a worldwide duopoly - you can’t get away, so the minimum would be some kind of choice whom you flip your coins!

Let's see -

Sent emails wanting a sidedeal (which didn't happen)
Submitted an update secretly adding in a hotfix
E-mailed Apple and essentially told them to screw off
Epic posts a video mocking apple
Epic tries to get pre-teens to rally against them
Files a lawsuit
Continues to drag Apple through the mud posting false information (because of Apple you can't play the newest season)

and yet, all they need to do is remove a line of code and all is well.

Instead, this happens. What other developer did this?

 

[dguisinger]

They don't have to use Sign in with Apple, but that means they have build their own sign in service. They can't just use Facebook or Google instead. I can't speak for others but if an App requires me to create an account with them then they better have a really good reason - and we don't want to offer Sign In With Apple isn't a good one.

What? They clearly have their own sign in service, they are cross platform and had it before SiwA ever existed. What is your point again?

I've never used Sign in With Apple, actually, I don't think I ever will.

 

[edgonzalez32]

This just reminds other developers that if they rely on too many Apple services, Apple can kneel on their necks anytime they want..... it really feels more like intimidation efforts towards other developers at this point to keep them in line.

That goes for any service really. It's why I always try to rely more on 3rd party services rather than dumping everything into a single company. Especially when it comes to these "sign in with" options.