Apple Removes Fortnite From App Store [Update: Epic Files Lawsuit Against Apple]

[LeadingHeat]

Of course this was premeditated. Of course Epic games knew Apple would pull them from the App Store. They signed a contract saying they wouldn’t break the rules they’re agreeing to, but they broke them anyways. Of course Apple had to retaliate and follow their side of the contract, aka pulling their app.
But of course Epic games did all this on purpose. You can’t throw together an entire animated film that fast. This was premeditated to the fullest.

 

[Peperino]

A business that gets access to tens of millions of users. Would your business even exist if not for the App store?

Still, that does not give you the right to OWN 30% of everybody's business. You can pay a one time fee to reach millions of users. That is call marketing. Apple is mafia style protection business.

 

[jole]

> No one would be forcing you to use the hypothetical iOS Epic Games Store. They just want a chance to compete.

The moment Apple would allow Epic to handle payments directly, they will stop supporting Apple payments to: 1) maximize margins, 2) bypass parental approvals, 3) track my identity.

 

[GizmoDVD]

Epic literally sells costumes and dance moves for $9 and people are complaining about Apple?

 

[jetrois]

Isn't there a cost to hosting all those apps, distributing them on the fastest data pipes, spending R&D to create better development tools as well as the marketing and all else needed to have a thriving installed base? Thats at least 15% they need to charge to recoup that. You also have to take account the obligatory Apple tax. Thats another 10%. And because you have a problem with it and all the other App ecosystems are lame, theres your extra 5%. I award Epic no points. And it deserves what it gets. They are free to make their own devices. The 30% is probably to discourage the biggest companies from creating entire businesses on Apples platform. Because the more of those that exist the more power they have over Apple to force them to go into directions they do not want to go towards. They already had that problem with microsoft and adobe, and you see how that turned out. By making money hand over fist on the iPad they reduce the income hit they could have if a huge enough player pulls out of their App store trying to strong arm Apple. That has happened in the past with the Mac and this time, if Apple will go through that again they will look at how much money they made from whoever does that and shrug and move on.

all that cost is baked into the overpriced hardware. I buy it becuase its been created with care but im more picky with my software.

 

[smetvid]

Apple's store, Apple's rules. Epic enjoyed a lot of success from this ecosystem and its pure greed now to suddenly have an issue with it. If the 30% is impacting them then they have a flawed business model and are not making as much as they hoped they would off of the game.

Its kind of like buying a place that has an HOA and then suddenly complaining about the HOA rules. Those were the rules to enjoy a lucrative market with all of its benefits. Take it or leave it.

 

[GizmoDVD]

Still, that does not give you the right to OWN 30% of everybody's business. You can pay a one time fee to reach millions of users. That is call marketing. Apple is mafia style protection business.

Yes, it DOES if you agreed to it when you put the App on the App store.

if you don't like it, go elsewhere...and Good luck!

 

[TimFL1]

Apple made their bed when they invented the "Reader" carve-out for Netflix and Spotify and decided not to charge for Amazon Prime streaming video rentals made through the Amazon app...

Or allow Netflix to ship an app that only works when you sign into an account with an active subscription, a thing which Hey mail was banned for and had to introduce a free tier to launch their app.

 

[neoelectronaut]

In the battle between two megacorps, who will you side on?

Neither, because I frankly don't give a hoot.

 

[discuit]

Of course the stunt was premeditated, it was likely part of a legal strategy that they needed to be able to show the court that an actual harm was sustained in order to gain standing.

 

[TheAppleFairy]

Lol. I wonder how many would have chosen $9.99 over $7.99.

Only ones who have Apple Gift cards.

 

[Ethosik]

Good on Epic for issuing this challenge. Apple has gotten too big for its britches and it's time to knock them down a few pegs.

And I say this as a longtime Apple fan and investor. I don't want them to become the bad guys. Hell, them suing over that pear logo that looks nothing like the Apple logo; that's another case they deserve to lose with prejudice.

EDIT: To all of those who claim Apple offers a great platform and deserves to be paid for it: They DO. Every developer pays to be able to write iOS apps. All of us customers pay for our devices and for services like iCloud Storage. Apple really should function more as a payment processor and take a more appropriate cut than the massive 30% they do now.

So you are saying companies can be successful, but not TOO successful?

 

[SDJim]

I'm not sure that this will help Apple's current App Store lawsuits...

That's why Epic did it, to be an epic dick. I mean, it's business, so it's not like it's an evil move, but it was a move calculated to be a deliberate blow to Apple.

 

[JM]

Pretty simple. It's called "Consignment". Apple has the storefront, and developers have the product. The developer pays the storefront a consignment fee to sell their product at the storefront.

W. T. F. People want to whine about whats "not fair" in business. Wahhhhhh... I don't WANNA PAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!

Fine. Go build your own distribution platform and create your own gaming device, Epic.

Greedy whiny babies.

 

[jetrois]

You own the phone, not the software running on it.

thats debatable the softeare is a component of the hardware no one would buy it it it was just a lump i think this must be a examined under law. embeded software should be owned by the owner of the hardware not just loaned if thats the case you cant own the full advertised featureset of the phone itself.

 

[GermanSuplex]

Stupid on Epic’s behalf. Cheating or skirting the rules. I truly don’t get what the big deal is about Apple’s platform. Seems fair to me. If you hate it that much, create a way for it to run on Safari, abide by the rules and have people make purchases on your website, or use other platforms. Apple shouldn’t be forced to change its own rules for its own platform because successful developers feel they deserve special treatment.

 

[Analog Kid]

Aaand, I just got spammed by Epic with special discounts on V-buck sales.

I've never downloaded or played Fortnite. I'm not even sure I've ever played an Epic game... Not sure where they got my email address from, but the timing seems rather coincidental...

 

[jetrois]

Pretty simple. It's called "Consignment". Apple has the storefront, and developers have the product. The developer pays the storefront a consignment fee to sell their product at the storefront.

W. T. F. People want to whine about whats "not fair" in business. Wahhhhhh... I don't WANNA PAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!

Fine. Go build your own distribution platform and create your own gaming device, Epic.

Greedy whiny babies.

yep but apple denies you from creating your own distribution channels thats the whole argument that you seem not to get they cant create their own store apple wont let it exist there are a few stores that would jump at the chance say Silo

 

[JPack]

This move is 100% aimed at convincing Apple. Epic would not need to forego a cent of revenue if they decided to go through the courts; in fact, since there are already existing lawsuits, they could either just piggyback on these, file as friend of the court, or just sit back and watch while waiting for a favorable outcome. I think Epic is daring other significant developers to do the same thing, putting direct pressure on Apple's business model.

Of course you're wrong.

Epic just filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Apple today, hours after the removal of their game.

Why would Epic piggyback on some other court case when Epic themselves can make a clear and unequivocal argument before the court? The time to convince Apple in the backroom is long over.

https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/apple-complaint-734589783.pdf

 

[DanTheMan827]

Well Epic Games, you have just burnt your reputation
Good luck getting you next game in Apple App Store, or even Google App Store

I don't think this violates the terms of the Play Store because the payment is for digital content that may be consumed outside of the app itself (e.g. V-Bucks can be spent on other devices)

In-app purchases:

• Developers offering products within a game downloaded on Google Play or providing access to game content must use Google Play In-app Billing as the method of payment.
• Developers offering products within another category of app downloaded on Google Play must use Google Play In-app Billing as the method of payment, except for the following cases:
  • Payment is solely for physical products
  • Payment is for digital content that may be consumed outside of the app itself (e.g. songs that can be played on other music players).
• In-app virtual currencies must only be used within the app or game title for which they were purchased.
• Developers must not mislead users about the apps they are selling nor about any in-app services, goods, content, or functionality offered for purchase. If your product description on Google Play refers to in-app features that may require a specific or additional charge, your description must clearly notify users that payment is required to access those features.
• Apps offering mechanisms to receive randomized virtual items from a purchase (i.e. "loot boxes") must clearly disclose the odds of receiving those items in advance of purchase.

 

[JM]

Once again, a one time fee is ok. IT is NOT ok, when Apple wants to charge 30% of everything you do on the business. especially if you offer a service. That is just plain ridiculous.

Then take the business elsewhere. Businesses don't get to magically declare that they can do whatever they want wherever they want....

 

[Abazigal]

thats debatable the softeare is a component of the hardware no one would buy it it it was just a lump i think this must be a examined under law. embeded software should be owned by the owner of the hardware not just loaned if thats the case you cant own the full advertised featureset of the phone itself.

It’s in the TOC you (and just about every other iOS user) likely clicked agree to when you first setup your phone. Maybe it’s debatable, but you can’t say you didn’t know what you were getting yourself into, or what the “official stance” on this is.

 

[sigsegv]

How is it wrong when the developers don't have to have their app on iOS device ?
It seems like they want to use apples platform but not pay. And than try to act like its about the consumer

When I buy a PC I don't have to pay 30% to Microsoft or Intel (or Dell, etc) for every software purchase and in-app transaction I do on that machine.

Ditto for Steam; I don't have to use it.

Apple locks their platform down and there's no escape for consumers and sellers. This "feature" coming to a Mac soon no doubt...

 

[theotherphil]

Fortnight is not a store. It need not open itself up to sales because they built fortnight. Apple built the app store and the iPhone the problem that everyone is having is You own the phone and You should decide where you get your software from on a device You have paid for. Apple touts that they are for the consumers but that is obviously bullshiet. I side load all the time no issues. If apple actually wanted to all they need do is leverage gatekeeper for ios and anyone that wants to publish can publish and bad software can (bad meaning malware) be blocked its already been done for mac for years.

You may own the phone but not the software running on it. That belongs to Apple. That “Licence Agreement” that you agreed to when you first turned it on? It’s all in there and we’ll worth a read.

You are free to install whatever software you like and from any source. Apple doesn’t have to make it easy for you.

 

[kuwxman]

Apple needs Fortnite more than Fortnite needs Apple.

*here comes the Apple's rules folks*

Apple just can't get out of their own way when it comes to gaming lately.