Epic Games Announces 'Fortnite: Save the World' Will No Longer Be Playable on macOS

[MacRumors]

Epic Games has announced that "Fortnite: Save the World" will no longer be playable on macOS, after Apple terminated Epic Games' developer account.

Fortnite has been in violation of the ‌App Store‌ rules since August 13, when it introduced a direct payment option that skirted Apple's in-app purchase system by allowing payments directly to ‌Epic Games‌. Shortly after Epic blatantly disregarded ‌App Store‌ policies, Apple pulled the app from the ‌App Store‌, leading to a lawsuit from Epic and a quickly escalating legal fight between the two companies.

Since Epic initiated the dispute with Apple, it has refused to back down from the direct purchase option added to Fortnite, and Apple has refused to allow the app in the ‌App Store‌ while the direct payment option remains. Apple told Epic that it was ready to "welcome Fortnite back onto iOS" if Epic removed the direct payment option and returned to the status quo while the legal battle plays out in court, but Epic has refused.

At the end of last month, Apple terminated Epic Games' developer account, meaning that it can no longer develop apps or issue updates for any of Apple's operating systems. The result of this is seen in the confirmation from Epic that Fortnite: Save the World will be losing support on macOS.

Apple is preventing Epic from signing games and patches for distribution on Mac, which ends our ability to develop and offer Fortnite: Save the World for the platform. Specifically, our upcoming v14.20 release will cause bugs for players on v13.40, resulting in a very poor experience. Since we are no longer able to sign updates and release fixes for these issues, beginning September 23, 2020, Fortnite: Save the World will no longer be playable on macOS.

Epic also said that it will be issuing an automatic refund for recent in-game purchases. As of today, in-game purchases will no longer be available on macOS. Due to cross-progression, players' Heroes, Schematics, and Homebase will automatically transfer across supported platforms.

Fortnite: Battle Royale remains playable for Mac users at this time on the v13.40 build, but is no longer receiving version updates due to Apple's actions.

The statement insinuated that Apple was at fault by emphasizing that the development is a result of "Apple's actions."

Apple and Epic Games are preparing for a hearing on a preliminary injunction to decide whether Apple will be compelled to return Fortnite to the App Store as the legal battle between the two companies plays out. Apple has since filed a countersuit against Epic requesting damages for breach of contract.

Article Link: Epic Games Announces 'Fortnite: Save the World' Will No Longer Be Playable on macOS

 

[berrymetal]

OH no, please dont take it down. I just heard about it by the way

 

[rgeneral]

About time. Just get on some with it.

 

[darinzook]

Good riddance. Epic is in a mess of their own making. Apple will do just fine without them on any of their platforms.

 

[deathcab]

Curious decision. If I were Apple, I would use this to rebut the App Store is the gatekeeper arguments Epic is making on the iOS side.

Epic could easily offer games on MacOS completely outside of the Mac App Store (and could utilize whatever in-game payment mechanics they desired in that case) but is instead electing to leave the platform if they can’t use Apples resources for free.

 

[Born2Run]

Oh boo hoo... It's been a few days, time for Epic to start crying for pity again!
What makes this even better is the fact they'll be losing money by refunding people as well.

 

[G5isAlive]

these guys could give a PhD course in 'doubling down.'

 

[JoelTheSuperior]

Regardless of what you think of Epic or Apple, the reality is that this is another game developer giving up on the Mac as a platform.

Granted, the Mac was never exactly a good platform for gaming, but it's not exactly great to hear that it's getting worse.

 

[bttrdg]

Epic Games are fools. Absolute fools. Why do they think Apple should treat them differently to any other developer? The App Store has allowed Fortnite to grow and earn them higher amounts of revenue, and yet they‘re shooting themselves in the foot with this little tantrum because they can’t get what they want. Good riddance to them I say.

 

[ArPe]

Cool cool, even the zoomers and doomers are getting bored of it anyway.

 

[deeddawg]

... and all completely avoidable had Epic (a) not intentionally broken the terms they'd agreed to and (b) then chosen to refuse to abide by those terms.

 

[Jynto]

This is unrelated to what Epic Games is doing on the iOS App Store.

For Apple to extend its punishment to the Mac as well is quite simply an abuse of its power.

 

[hortod1]

Peace out yo

 

[G5isAlive]

OH no, please dont take it down. I just heard about it by the way

My sons played it for a while and got bored. I tried it then and just couldn't be bothered to learn enough to get good at it. But I can see the appeal for some, it is a pretty benign and colorful first shooter. But I like my killing with gore.

 

[m11rphy]

For anyone thinking Epic shouldn't give Apple their 30%, this article highlights just how much service epic was getting including a "relationship team as to provide the company with around the clock support." and if they didn't they would threaten apple taht would remove their games from the platform.

Apple: Epic threatened to abandon iOS if we didn’t cave to 'Fortnite' demands

Recent Apple filings reveal the immense behind-the-scenes support Apple provided to Fortnite-maker Epic Games over the last two years…

macdailynews.com

 

[bttrdg]

For Apple to extend its punishment to the Mac as well is quite simply an abuse of its power.

It is far from abusive. Apple has the same rights as any other organisation to choose what should and shouldn’t be permitted onto their platform. Epic were well aware of the consequences, they even agreed to Apple rules before setting foot onto iOS or MacOS.

 

[whoknows2597]

Too bad, so sad!

 

[hlfway2anywhere]

This is getting beyond ridiculous now.

 

[deeddawg]

This is unrelated to what Epic Games is doing on the iOS App Store.

For Apple to extend its punishment to the Mac as well is quite simply an abuse of its power.

So you're saying Epic would have two different developer accounts? One for iOS and one for macOS?

I thought it'd be just one account for both platforms. ... and I'm not sure how you'd expect Epic to support a game on macOS without a developer account?

Though really it seems more a matter of Epic trying to make their customers push on Apple rather than just solving their own problem by abiding by the contract they'd previously agreed to.

 

[darinzook]

I do have to chuckle, Epic news fades into the background because of Apple events, Tiktok drama, etc. So they routinely come up with something else to gripe about to make sure they go back to the top of newsfeeds. You look over the last few weeks, and its basically every 10-14 days like clockwork.

This entire thing is just a grasp for relevancy. Its already been pointed out here by a few folks - but they can still develop for Mac. They just can't distribute through Apple's store. They may not be able to grab the latest releases of Xcode without developer account access though. But anyone can create a dev account and download Xcode.

 

[G5isAlive]

This is unrelated to what Epic Games is doing on the iOS App Store.

For Apple to extend its punishment to the Mac as well is quite simply an abuse of its power.

Abusive? You go out of your way to help your neighbor... manage their lawn, paint the exterior to increase their curb appeal.. and one day they break down your front door because they want more? And when you dont give it to them, they take you to court? And you are supposed to NOT change the locks on the back door?

I am not always a fan of Apple's legal actions, but this one, yeah, right on Apple.

 

[RadioHedgeFund]

If you’ve never played Save the World I can assure you you’re not missing anything.

 

[darkpaw]

This is unrelated to what Epic Games is doing on the iOS App Store.

For Apple to extend its punishment to the Mac as well is quite simply an abuse of its power.

Sorry, but that's incorrect. A developer agreement permits the developer (Epic Games) to develop for certain platforms listed in that agreement. If they breach the contract, they may not develop for iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS or macOS. There are not separate agreements per OS.

 

[sirozha]

Amazing hutzpah. My best wishes to Epic. David against Goliath.

I don’t game, and I won’t allow my 10-year-old to play Fortnite or any other violent game, but I do appreciate those who stand up to bullies. And Apple has clearly become a bully and is drunk on the profits.

Among young people, gaming is a big deal, and purchasing decisions get made based on the platform capability vis-à-vis compatibility with games. Apple will suffer because of this. There will be millions or tens of millions whose next device will not be made by Apple.

 

[BuffaloTF]

and somewhere a dozen or two cries were heard...