It’s hard to say what is behind all that, but you can even consider that epic want to cancel developing Unreal for iOS and Mac, but does not want to look like bad guy. They can say that it was Apple who force them to do it. Anyway I think that in few weeks, possibly even by end of month will be Fortnite back in store, otherwise Epic can loose hundreds of millions dollars.
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Apple Threatens to Terminate Epic Games' Developer Accounts on August 28
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It’s hard to say what is behind all that, but you can even consider that epic want to cancel developing Unreal for iOS and Mac, but does not want to look like bad guy. They can say that it was Apple who force them to do it. Anyway I think that in few weeks, possibly even by end of month will be Fortnite back in store, otherwise Epic can loose hundreds of millions dollars.
Except CCP isn’t communist, any more than DPRK is democratic.
I'm glad seeing that Apple treats all developers equally.
Break the rules and cry when you get punished... Oh Epic... That's not so epic. More like pathepic.
Break the rules and cry when you get punished... Oh Epic... That's not so epic. More like pathepic.
Unbelievably juvenile and petty on Apple's party.
They're literally setting developer relationships on fire out of spite.
It's time to abandon their platforms.
They're literally setting developer relationships on fire out of spite.
It's time to abandon their platforms.
Apple may loose in front of jury, but it can take few year before case will get in front of jury. In meantime Epic can easily loose billion of dollars from Fortnite on iOS. So I think they will make some deal. It’s just summer, so they have some free time for fights.
Last I checked, 40% isn't a majority.
No, they can’t just do whatever they want 🙄
Microsoft actually uses a progressive pricing system, which is why they escape scrutiny. Only the largest, most published games get hit with the 30% cut. For most smaller developers/indie games, the cut is much smaller -- between 5 and 15%. Sony uses a similar pricing system too.
If Apple were to adopt the same scheme (think competition), I'm sure there would have far less legal headaches.
Everyone keeps saying this is like PS4 and Xbox stores as well. It's not at all. PS and Xbox might take a cut from games or add ons but when it comes to Apps that are free and in app subscriptions, they don't take a 30 percent cut. If i download the spotify app on either PS or Xbox and signup in the App, Xbox or PS dosent get 30 percent of the cut. Now for apps that are one time purchase they get a cut from the app. i'm not even sure they take a percentage of EA Access Subscription because I doubt they would be selling it for 4.99.
Apple has pulled multiple apps over the years from hundreds of different developers because of of disagreeing over IAP payment terms, including apps from Facebook, Microsoft and Google. It's never, ever terminated the developer tools in those cases. They are not treating developers equally, and you are lying.
Apple are doing this for one reason and one reason only, and that's petty spite that they're getting sued to look bad.
Regulators will rightly look at this very badly. Apple is going to lose the entire App Store over this, and they deserve it.
The console comparison is void, Mr Gruber. A console is not essential like a personal phone is. These are the only computing devices some people have. Mobile is controlled by an anti-consumer duopoly and you don’t have a choice. Apple/Google actions show both need massive regulation to stop the anti-competitive behavior (which is getting worse over time).
Apple also has years of marketing iOS devices as “computers” (not “consoles”), but perhaps we should have taken their wordsmithing more seriously:
(ripped from twitter)
Apple gives anyone who has a subscription service that same discount after one year. It’s not exclusive to Amazon.
I think you didn't realize how many games are based on Unreal.
Many People can now say goodbye to their games.
And I will say goodbye to apple, or to the app based mobile platform all together...
Many Devs will say goodbye to the mobile platform this way.
Affected or not, this will open many devs eyes, that relying on Apple is like building a business on lose ground.
Just disabled the auto renewing of my apple dev account subscription...
Getting a little Greedy aren't we Epic?
Apple is planning to terminate Epic Games' entire access to its App Store and app development tools, Epic Games said today. Apple told Epic that by August 28, all access will be ended.
That includes Epic's access to the development tools necessary to create software for the Unreal Engine that Epic offers to third-party developers for their games. In response, Epic has filed a court order asking a Northern California court to stop Apple from removing Epic's App Store access. [PDF] From the filing:
Cutting off Epic's access to Mac and iOS developer tools could have a significant impact on all of the apps and games that use Epic's Unreal Engine. Apple in its letter to Epic Games letting it know about the upcoming account closures says that Epic can avoid having its access revoked by following Apple's App Store guidelines. From Apple's letter to Epic:Epic is asking the court to prevent Apple from taking "any adverse action" against it, including restricting, suspending, or terminating Epic's access to the Apple Developer program. Epic also asks that the court restrain Apple from removing, de-listing, refusing to list, or otherwise making the Fortnite app unavailable, or modifying the Fortnite code.
The dispute between Apple and Epic kicked off last week when Epic made a calculated decision to defy Apple's App Store rules and introduce a direct payment option for in-game currency in Fortnite, skirting Apple's in-app purchase system.
Apple swiftly responded by removing the Fortnite app from the App Store, prompting Epic Games to file a pre-planned lawsuit against Apple accusing the Cupertino company of being a "the behemoth seeking to control markets, block competition, and stifle innovation" and imposing "anti-competitive restraints" and using "monopolistic practices in markets" against App Store developers.
Epic also released an anti-Apple video based on Apple's famous 1984 ad, which encourages people to "join the fight to stop 2020 from becoming 1984."
At this point in time, Fortnite remains unavailable from the App Store, and barring court intervention or a decision to comply with the rules, all of Epic's developer accounts will be terminated at the end of the month.
Article Link: Apple Threatens to Terminate Epic Games' Developer Accounts on August 28
Epic Games Store Has Hit $680 Million In Revenue, 108 Million Customers
Games signed to exclusivity deals with Epic have driven the majority of revenue on the platform.
www.forbes.com
Putting Apple/MS related bias aside what would your solution be?
Apple can't be seen to be allowing one developer to flout the rules, and then punish another for doing it. Epic were in a damn good position - the exact same position they were in on Google Play, PS, Xbox, etc and they decided to go up against Apple and knowingly violate the rules. That 1984 ad didn't get made in a day, they've been planning this for ages knowing it would result in a fight.
What they probably didn't count on is apple going thermo nucleur on them and pulling them up on their other countless violations.
We all know full well what the deal is wih iOS - its a walled garden, one some of us like given it goes a hell of a long way to reducing crap, malware and generally ****** apps for the most part. Developers make an absolute fortune out of it - far more than they make from Google Play, which is Apple's justification for enforcing their rules.
The solution is not in any way shape or form to allow a 3rd party app store, that would turn iOS into a fragmented mess pretty quickly.
IF Apple wants to ban Unreal Engine on their platform, they may cancel Apple Arcade as well, considering the greatest titles of this service use Unreal.
If this is indeed a set rule there really is no problem here.
People might argue that this is abuse of power, but if this is a rule applied to everybody it's good that Apple keeps everybody to the same rules.
I'm fascinated by the number of people defending Apple here. Yes, Epic violated their agreement, and knew this was coming. It was all calculated -- though I didn't expect Apple would block all Apps using the Unreal Engine.
But -- and I say this typing on my MacBook Pro with at least 4 other Apple devices in the room -- Apple is in the wrong with how they operate the finances of the App Store. 30% pay to play?
But -- and I say this typing on my MacBook Pro with at least 4 other Apple devices in the room -- Apple is in the wrong with how they operate the finances of the App Store. 30% pay to play?
You can’t buy dlc or items in game on consoles and can only purchase items like v bucks directly in the digital stores
I’m curious to know what the “violations set forth below” (and were conveniently omitted?) are...
True, and there's nothing anti-competitive about the "phone" part of the iPhone. Gaming is not "essential," it's just fun for some people.