Epic Games Offers Apple 'Peace Proposal' to Return Fortnite to the App Store Worldwide

[MacRumors]

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney today said that Fortnite will return to the U.S. App Store next week, and he offered a "peace proposal" with a pledge to bring Fortnite back to iOS worldwide if Apple follows certain steps.

"Epic puts forth a peace proposal: If Apple extends the court's friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide, we'll return Fortnite to the App Store worldwide and drop current and future litigation on the topic," Sweeney wrote.

Earlier today, Apple was found to be willfully violating a 2021 anti-steering injunction that was put in place as part of its legal battle with Epic Games. In a strongly worded ruling, the judge overseeing the case ordered Apple to immediately change its App Store rules.

Apple must drop all of its anti-steering policies. The company is no longer allowed to prevent developers from letting customers know about options to purchase subscriptions and content outside of the App Store. Apple cannot control link placement, the language that developers use to direct customers to make purchases outside of an app, or the style that developers use for communicating non in-app purchase options.

Further, Apple is not able to charge fees or collect commission for any purchases made outside of an app.

The ruling is a significant blow to Apple. After the injunction was put into place in 2021, Apple had a three year reprieve as it appealed, but ultimately the company was required to make changes in 2024. Apple ultimately allowed developers a single link to direct customers outside of the App Store, and collected between 12 and 27 percent in fees for purchases made from those links.

Epic Games accused Apple of violating the anti-steering injunction after the new rules were put in place, and requested that the court find Apple in contempt. The judge sided with Epic Games, and decided that Apple's solution did not go far enough to address its anticompetitive behavior.

Apple will not be able to delay making rule changes to the U.S. App Store based on the wording of the ruling, and Epic Games is proposing that Apple extend those changes worldwide. If Apple does so, Epic Games will drop all litigation.

Article Link: Epic Games Offers Apple 'Peace Proposal' to Return Fortnite to the App Store Worldwide

 

[turbineseaplane]

The company is no longer allowed to prevent developers from letting customers know about options to purchase subscriptions and content outside of the App Store. Apple cannot control link placement, the language that developers use to direct customers to make purchases outside of an app, or the style that developers use for communicating non in-app purchase options.

Further, Apple is not able to charge fees or collect commission for any purchases made outside of an app.

All very sensible, and as it should be.

Apple knows this ... they dragged their feet for years to get to this point.

 

[jz0309]

"Epic puts forth a peace proposal: If Apple extends the court's friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide, we'll return Fortnite to the App Store worldwide and drop current and future litigation on the topic," Sweeney wrote.

They got banned for willfully violating the rules, by a court. And now this, what a joke.

I assume that Apple will never allow them back in the App Store, at least in the US unless ordered by SCOTUS

 

[jz0309]

All very sensible, and as it should be.

Apple knows this ... they dragged their feet for years to get to this point.

Did you forget that they got banned cause the willfully and knowingly broke the rules they agreed to? And Apple won in court…

 

[dwd3885]

Finally.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Great news!

 

[Mrjoedot]

Peace Proposal? if Apple follows certain steps? Epic clearly does not know how to negotiate here.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Peace Proposal? if Apple follows certain steps? Epic clearly does not know how to negotiate here.

They are proposing a resolution.

You're mad they are proposing something?

One can't "resolve" something without "proposing steps parties can agree to"

😵‍💫

 

[Onexy]

Apple employees should face jail time over this. They damage the whole software industry and customers.

 

[mannyvel]

Apple: no.

 

[GMShadow]

Apple employees should face jail time over this. They damage the whole software industry and customers.

Hilarious you say this in a story about Epic, a company which has irrevocably damaged the gaming industry with their introduction of the forever game, and with their horribly optimized and bloated Unreal Engine.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Hilarious you say this in a story about Epic, a company which has irrevocably damaged the gaming industry with their introduction of the forever game, and with their horribly optimized and bloated Unreal Engine.

That's completely irrelevant to this topic

 

[manurojasv]

There's no such thing as a small enemy, as Apple's defeat in court against Epic clearly demonstrates.

 

[HQuest]

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why society is collapsing. Those with no rights making demands so everyone can lose.

 

[armandxp]

Epic is so ready to drop everything LOL. They hungry for all those micro transactions from kids that they haven’t been receiving from iOS devices for some time. Billion dollar corporations fighting over more money and who gets to keep said money.

 

[Rradcircless]

Tim Sweeney offering a peace deal to Apple if they follow his conditions? Sweeney obviously benefits tremendously from having Fornite on Apple products. Apple has likely got a budget of hundreds of millions of dollars to continue litigating this dispute. Does Apple continue to fight this fight, or do they let Fortnite back on their platform to begin recouping what they've spent on lawyers, through Fortnite's in app purchases (that is unless Sweeney is demanding 0% fees)?

 

[Rradcircless]

Apple: no.

 

[jz0309]

That's completely irrelevant to this topic

Just as relevant as the post @GMShadow responded to…

 

[JordanCautious]

The arrogance of this guy to act like he's doing Apple a favor 😂.

Oh wait. I just got word of Tim Cook's response: *

You're gonna love it.

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

This is far from over. Apple has the resources to make this a forever case.

 

[chrono1081]

Apple employees should face jail time over this. They damage the whole software industry and customers.

No that would be Tim Sweeny and his bullying. Clearly you haven't watched Epic closely. Sweeny cares so much about App Store fees yet imposes his own in his App Store and fees on his engine.

 

[zahuh]

YES!!! Thank you Epic!!! So grateful!!! Just because I buy something on a website on my Mac does not mean Apple deserves 15 or 30%! It’s the same thing with an app!! Thank you for justice removing this terrible unfair tax on developers for all these years! Next is removing this self created App Store only policy and we are free!

 

[Welsie]

A few years ago I would've been overjoyed at the idea of getting Fortnite back on my Apple Devices... but after so long without access I've found other uses for my time. Truthfully, I wish Epic had just played ball with Apple (while pursuing their legal right to sue over what they found to be unfair practices). As it stands, even if Fortnite returns, I probably won't return to the game. I've broke the addiction.

 

[Apple MessagePad]

Epic trying to spin it to look like the good guy when they've been the one pushing all the litigation for years. Hopefully Apple tells them where to stick it.

Epic constantly crying and saying Apple is out only for their own self-interest, while Epic is also 100% out for their own self-interest.

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

Allow lowlife Sweeney back on the App Store? That’s laughable. That Sweeney Snake is a horrible human being. Does everyone forget how he manipulated the Fortnite kids to empty their wallets? He’s no good and Apple knows enough to stay away from this creep