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Apple's legal battle with Epic Games is continuing on, and during the second day of the trial, Epic Games' CEO Tim Sweeney continued his testimony against Apple.

fortnite-apple-logo-2.5.jpg

Sweeney was grilled by Apple's lawyers, and made several points seemingly favorable to Apple. In addition to mentioning how he prefers Apple's iPhone and values Apple's privacy policies that he's aiming to dismantle, Sweeney confirmed that Apple's 30 percent cut is also the "most prevalent rate" that other platforms charge.

Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo all take a 30 percent cut from Epic Games on their platforms and require their in-app purchase systems to be used, but Sweeney said that Epic is not challenging them because he believes in the idea of "subsidized hardware," though he also admitted that iPhone and iOS development is "very similar." It's also worth noting that Fortnite makes more money on console platforms than it does from iOS.

Sweeney confirmed that Epic Games has a history of bullying platform makers. Epic Games pushed Sony into allowing cross-platform play, but Sony ultimately got the upper hand and requires additional payment to enable cross-platform capabilities, unlike iOS, where cross-platform play is free and has been since Fortnite launched on the App Store.

Apple pointed out Epic Games' use of Apple's Metal API and shared correspondence where Sweeney and Epic had praised Metal in the past as evidence that Epic benefits from Apple's APIs and SDKs. From an Epic internal email discussing a quote to give to Apple:
We've been making use of Metal on iOS to great effect since its release in 2014. A fast, agile, feature-rich API like Metal is exactly what we need to bring a game designed for modern consoles and desktops to the battery-powered iPhone and iPad. As a developer, it blows away OpenGL in every way.
Starting in 2015, Sweeney began trying to convince Apple to make the App Store an open platform.

tim-sweeney-email-cook.jpg

Humorously, when he got Sweeney's initial email, Cook didn't know who Sweeney was. "Is this the guy that was at one of our rehearsals?" he asked Phil Schiller in a forwarded email.

When asked whether he would have accepted a special deal from Apple for a lower App Store commission, Sweeney said "Yes, I would have," which seems to weaken Epic's argument that its decision to kick off a legal battle with Apple was done to benefit all developers.

At the conclusion of today's questioning, Sweeney was asked what he would do if Epic Games loses the case. In response, he said that Apple would be able to cut off Fortnite and remove Epic Games from the developer program for any reason. "We would have to live with not supporting the iOS platform," he said.

The legal fight between Apple and Epic will continue for three weeks, with Apple executives like Tim Cook set to testify during the third week. We'll have ongoing coverage of Apple v. Epic as the case continues on.

Article Link: Epic CEO Tim Sweeney Admits App Store's 30% Cut Is Similar to Consoles, Would Have Accepted Special Deal With Apple
 

countryside

macrumors 6502a
Jan 9, 2016
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I am really confused if/how EPIC thinks they can win this...

What is in it for them? Beyond a slim chance of winning?

Is it the 'all publicity is good publicity' mindset? Not to mention they are losing out on iOS revenue? And look like a spoiled entitled brat?
 
Last edited:

xraydoc

Contributor
Oct 9, 2005
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"At the conclusion of today's questioning, Sweeney was asked what he would do if Epic Games loses the case. In response, he said that Apple would be able to cut off Fortnite and remove Epic Games from the developer program for any reason. 'We would have to live with not supporting the iOS platform,' he said."

Seems like an empty threat. Nintendo or Sony could do the same thing. Besides, Apple's does not cut developers off for just no reason.

And the only ones who gets hurt here if they take their ball and go home are themselves. Other game developers will swoop in and happily sell their games to iOS users.
 

rudigern

macrumors member
Apr 20, 2010
75
104
I am really confused if/how EPIC thinks they can win this...

What is in it for them? Beyond a slim chance of winning?

Is it the 'all publicity is good publicity' mindset? Not to mention they are losing out on iOS revenue? And look like a spoiled entitled brat?
They get to say they beat Apple, what a lot consider a litigious company (I would say only because of their size). It's just bragging rights.
 

szw-mapple fan

macrumors 68040
Jul 28, 2012
3,449
4,298
I am really confused if/how EPIC thinks they can win this...

What is in it for them? Beyond a slim chance of winning?

Is it the 'all publicity is good publicity' mindset? Not to mention they are losing out on iOS revenue? And look like a spoiled entitled brat?
Probably hoping that Apple would settle so they can get a special deal with them using the publicity to get a better deal.
 

MauiPa

macrumors 68040
Apr 18, 2018
3,429
5,078
One thing I always wondered. Does Epic have a buy from App Store button on purchases within their store? That is exactly what Epic tried to do in the App Store, right? Ouch! That is the sound of truth hurting!
 
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ghostface147

macrumors 601
May 28, 2008
4,150
5,122
"At the conclusion of today's questioning, Sweeney was asked what he would do if Epic Games loses the case. In response, he said that Apple would be able to cut off Fortnite and remove Epic Games from the developer program for any reason. 'We would have to live with not supporting the iOS platform,' he said."

Seems like an empty threat. Nintendo or Sony could do the same thing. Besides, Apple's does not cut developers off for just no reason.

And the only ones who gets hurt here if they take their ball and go home are themselves. Other game developers will swoop in and happily sell their games to iOS users.

Find me a developer who has swooped in and had the success that Fornite had on iOS before all of these shenanigans.
 
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