Epic: Fortnite Offline Worldwide 'Until Apple Unblocks It'

[Plutonius]

I find it hard to believe that Epic thought that this would not have been the final outcome,

 

[nottorp]

Dude, it’s a business.

No, it's a duopoly. Apple and Google. With lock in effects so that there is no real competition even between the two *******s.

 

[H3boy]

Except Apple were told by both the US and EU courts that they weren’t allowed to stop or prevent developers from charging fees outside of the App Store and Apple weren’t allowed to tell developers how they presented these third party fees.

Apple at every occasion has taken the worst possible way to abide by the court rulings, using scare tactics and malicious compliance the entire time.

Apple will end up with more fines from this behaviour.

But absolutely nowhere in the court ruling did the court state that apple had to allow Fortnite or any other app on the Appstore.

 

[Bungaree.Chubbins]

everyone saying they “shouldn’t be forced” to move to android means, they just don’t want to leave iPhone

i don’t believe Apple is allowed to ban Epic’s developer account. That’s why they’re still allowed to resubmit Fortnite

I believe Epic’s main account has been banned in the U.S. and they’re using their Swedish account to submit it.

 

[FyrStrike]

You can’t have your cake and eat it too.

 

[Abazigal]

Apple doesn't own the hardware, I do.

Do I own my Nintendo switch hardware, or not?

 

[AstroChris88]

I really dislike Epic and their products. My nephew used to play Fortnite and it’s amazing how addicted Epic got children to purchasing all the microtransactions. Epic has plenty of money. I don’t feel bad for them.

Besides, you don’t do business with someone who sued you.

 

[spazzcat]

Nah. Apple should get their greedy fingers outta users hardware that THEY paid for. If people wanna play Fortnite on their iPhone and Epic wants to provide that why should Apple be involved.

Apple doesn't have to let 3rd parties us their platform.

 

[Onelifenofear]

Hmm some daily mail Headline tactics right here...

Fortnite offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it.
WHAT... BEACUSE APPLE WON'T APPROVE IT FORNITE IS OFFLINE EVERYWHERE?!?!?!

Actual headline:

Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it.
Oh so nothings changed then.

 

[spazzcat]

Except Apple were told by both the US and EU courts that they weren’t allowed to stop or prevent developers from charging fees outside of the App Store and Apple weren’t allowed to tell developers how they presented these third party fees.

Apple at every occasion has taken the worst possible way to abide by the court rulings, using scare tactics and malicious compliance the entire time.

Apple will end up with more fines from this behaviour.

That doesn't mean they have to let you use their store front.

 

[I7guy]

No.

Gaming is looked at when their is significant cause to believe than major players are using their market power unfairly.

Microsoft's acquisition of Activision being a case in point.

Correct and Sony, et al have significant market power. Apple is popular and that popularity causes apple to be influential.

Well I don't think a judge publicly hammering your company for failing to properly comply with a court order that was put in place to ensure fair competition is ever a good look when you headed into a trial where the same business practices are going to be litigated.

Ok, seems like the above is an opinion. But we’ll see.

Some of the discovery did not put some of Apple's executives off well, one of them has even been referred for criminal charges.

In the US it’s innocent until proven guilty. Remember: “if the app don’t fit, you must acquit”.

You would have to be somewhat delusional to think that is good preparation for the antitrust trial, will it effect the outcome? We will have to see. They have certainly provided a ton of extra ammunition for the DOJ.

There is a lot of that here. But we will see what happens.

 

[surferfb]

You would have to be somewhat delusional to think that is good preparation for the antitrust trial, will it effect the outcome? We will have to see. They have certainly provided a ton of extra ammunition for the DOJ.

Obviously predicting the results of litigation is a fool's errand, but I remain unconvinced the DOJ action will even in make it to trial. It's a weak case that had to invent a segmented market category "premium smartphones" to even come close to meeting the market percentage threshold for antitrust action in the US. And that's before we consider the case was started under the previous administration (which to be clear, 100% should not matter, but I suspect might).

 

[thejadedmonkey]

App$e needs to stop being a rent-seeker, and start earning money on products they create.

If App$e has reached market saturation, and cannot continue to increase profits, then the shareholders will just have to accept that. You can't get water from a rock, as they say.

 

[stocklen]

Nah. Apple should get their greedy fingers outta users hardware that THEY paid for. If people wanna play Fortnite on their iPhone and Epic wants to provide that why should Apple be involved.

Nah.
Sweeny wants to access Apple's hardware and software and OSes for FREE.

Thats not how it works.

Why should apple hand all that over for free when they paid billions to develop it.

Nobody else provides free access platforms on this scale with millions of potential worldwide users.

Epic wants to have their cake and eat it too. Not fair.

 

[Tdude96]

Apple should be doing an extremely thorough review process on the app. The last time it was submitted to their store it had content that expressly went against their terms, and then shady Epic dragged them through an unnecessary years-long legal proceeding to force them into changing their terms and making payments less secure. There's no telling what might have been put into the code this time that might break even more terms and lead to another expensive and unnecessary court battle.

 

[xmarcuswildx]

It's time for a$$le to be pushed in a corner.

"think different" has definitively died, under the greed.

You confused the Tim.

 

[MTWomg]

Throw Tim Cook in prison until he realizes that the law isn't optional.

 

[thiscatisfat]

Not sure why everyone is praising Apple and condemning Epic Games. Honestly, both sides are in the wrong.

Epic violated Apple’s terms, so Apple has the right to remove Epic from the App Store. But the fact that Epic is effectively banned from all iPhone hardware—not just the App Store—because there are no alternative app stores, is where Apple goes too far.

Right now, Apple acts as judge, jury, and executioner by having total control over both software and hardware.

The argument that people can just “switch to Android” is weak. If Google ever chooses the same path, what options are left? Are we expected to write our own mobile operating systems?

Why? Because Apple doesn't want other app stores on their OS? Whatever their reason is, it's their business and they can do whatever the hell they want with their products. It's their property. They're absolutely entitled to be the judge, jury and executioner over their OS. If you don't like it, don't buy it. You bought the hardware knowing it has a licensed software and what it's rules and limitations are, and just like Sweeney, you're now yapping about what you can and can't do on it. As if the iPhone didn't exist since 2007 and "the AppStore is the only app store" wasn't a thing since iPhone OS 2.

What options are left? Make your own, make it as successful as Apple and make sure to do as you're told by others because by your logic, you no longer have rights to make your own decisions over your own product. Make your own, I'll support it if it's as good, go on. If you can't make your own, act as a guest and follow the rules. If you visit my country and the sign says "no swimming in the lake", and you still go out for a swim, I'll chase you down with a stick. I hope you get the concept.

 

[thiscatisfat]

Throw Tim Cook in prison until he realizes that the law isn't optional.

You came all the way from twitter to write this comment and it still makes no sense.

 

[Rogifan]

I haven’t read through all the comments….presumably Fortnight was available in the EU? Has Apple now blocked it there? Or did Epic pull it when Apple denied their US submission? Sweeney has to know by now this is all personal.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Obviously predicting the results of litigation is a fool's errand, but I remain unconvinced the DOJ action will even in make it to trial. It's a weak case that had to invent a segmented market category "premium smartphones" to even come close to meeting the market percentage threshold for antitrust action in the US. And that's before we consider the case was started under the previous administration (which to be clear, 100% should not matter, but I suspect might).

Trying to predict what Trump is going to do is basically impossible.

That said they have so many regulatory investigations pending i would be surprised if they made it through them all without concessions.

The mobile wallet and anti steering stuff was particularly unreasonable on Apple's part.

 

[thiscatisfat]

So, basically, you mean every restaurant in the world MUST offer Coca-Cola if they come and tell the owner to have it on the menu?

It's really odd how many people don't understand this concept.

 

[djphat2000]

It's time for a$$le to be pushed in a corner.

"think different" has definitively died, under the greed.

Is EPIC not greedy too?

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

I haven’t read through all the comments….presumably Fortnight was available in the EU? Has Apple now blocked it there? Or did Epic pull it when Apple denied their US submission? Sweeney has to know by now this is all personal.

I think he knew Apple wasn't going to let Fortnite back on the store, he knows the more publicity this gets the worse this could potentially be for Apple.

That tweet has been sat in drafts since before the app was resubmitted.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Apple are so petty and I love it hahaha

I sure don't

I'd like a corporation of their size to act professionally.