Finally just dropped with the boys for the first time on iOS in 5 years~! Crazy.
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Fortnite Returns to U.S. App Store
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You kinda proved the point there. Scam is not the right word, but unfair practices would be more appropriate.
Like you said, "having access to billions of customers". Name me any other situation outside of app stores where you have to pay 30% - even on things like subscription fees that you use to run your own business - to access users of a platform with that level of popularity.
Apple's used the mall argument before, but what they missed is that, perhaps with some rare exception, I haven't ever heard of a mall that charges its tenants 30% of all sales. The 30% model was Apple's own invention, and there is definitely a case to be made that it made sense in the early days of the iPhone to help foster development on the platform, but any company that reaches a certain size is subject to judgment and, yes, regulation when they do things that start to look like unfair monetary gain. Doesn't help that Apple is frequently the richest company in the entire world.
For those making the "but you agreed to it" argument, don't forget that judges can and do rule terms of contracts unenforceable, and often power imbalance is a major factor in that decision. It doesn't happen though until someone actually challenges the contract, and regardless of whether you like or hate Epic, they challenged the contract in court and ultimately a judge ruled that the payment processing provision isn't enforceable. By gatekeeping its own customers from devs, and by forbidding devs from even mentioning that you can pay elsewhere, it could be easily asserted that Apple is creating a power imbalance. If there are actually issues with one developer's free app with external payments causing problems with Apple's server hosting and app teams, then charge that developer a higher flat fee, like $9,999 a year or something. But, other than "but you agreed", is there actually a good argument as to why Apple deserves literal tens of millions of dollars for...processing microtransaction payments? With something as popular as Fortnite, is Apple even providing any tangible services other than hosting the app download?
There's also the inverse argument to be made - if a developer can make an equivalent or even better experience on iOS, that actually helps sell iOS devices, but when developers have to either charge more (just to cover the 30% tax) or make a subpar experience on iOS, it actually hurts Apple along with the developer and users. Confirmation bias might make it hard to see on this forum, but I bet there's quite a few people who actually have ditched Apple. (I'm one of them - the switch to the M-series chips really put me off, since I'd much rather have a more compatible platform than a few extra hours of battery life, and you're deluding yourself if you think performance and power usage is the only reasons they switched processors.)
Where did you get your law degree? Just curious how you know so much about the case to place judgement on the Judge? Or are you are of a new class of people who when they don't get their way, the Judge is corrupt?
Scam both developers and customers, of course.
People on this forum seem to greatly overestimate the App Store and its value proposition. At this point, it's just a poorly moderated software repo for locked-down & unmodifiable web apps.
Most digital services like Twitch or Spotify or whatever use an HTML5 frontend built with React, compatible with any modern browser. They allow users to pay with Apple Pay or PayPal or whatever with ~3% commission. They can access billions of customers perfectly fine thanks to open web. Including iPhone customers. So what exactly is the point of the App Store?
You really shouldn't be throwing around accusations of corruption unless you have tangible proof.
Not getting your way =/= corruption.
Now wait a minute.
This game is available in the EU thanks to, well, the EU.
This game is now available in the US (thanks to the court order?).
But it’s not available in any other regions, including European-but-non-EU countries like Serbia, including LATAM region, and every other country. I'm using Turkish App Store because of lower iCloud prices, and there is no Fortnite.
So if you think that this saga is over... I have some bad news for you 🙃
This game is available in the EU thanks to, well, the EU.
This game is now available in the US (thanks to the court order?).
But it’s not available in any other regions, including European-but-non-EU countries like Serbia, including LATAM region, and every other country. I'm using Turkish App Store because of lower iCloud prices, and there is no Fortnite.
So if you think that this saga is over... I have some bad news for you 🙃
Another bunch of ones and zeroes in a package I do NOT need or want. Be thankful Epic did NOT get an order that this aberration was to be loaded and or pre-loaded on every thing Apple makes.
There seems to be enough "GREED" to go around on both sides of the issue. The losers one again are the public.
There seems to be enough "GREED" to go around on both sides of the issue. The losers one again are the public.
Well, it was a US judge responsible for the ruling, they do not have jurisdiction outside the US.
So I guess Apple complied with the ruling…
And yes, keep the popcorn hot and ready…
First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Communist..........
weird behavior
It's the first result now...and no, they aren't making you type in your password just for this app. That always happens when you haven't used the App Store in a while.
I don't even like Fortnite, but Apple needs to be checked. I think Apple, and Steam, charging a straight 30% fee just for having a popular storefront is criminal. This hurts indie developers more than AAA studios. So, allowing smaller devs to bring in more money for apps that make less than X amount of dollars is a win.
Hopefully they let this just continue to be in the store moving forward, no matter what.
Apple really needs to focus on other things and get over this situation.
They have way too many legal distractions all over the place.
Apple really needs to focus on other things and get over this situation.
They have way too many legal distractions all over the place.
Right!? What's up with all the comments about leaving a 1-star review? You know the app developer and/or Apple can remove false/fraudulent ratings and reviews, right? Plus, you're boosting the algorithm and popularity just by downloading the app. I wouldn't be surprised if this shows up in the top/trending charts soon, but I think y’all are just shooting yourselves in the foot and helping it get there quicker. Good job! That's somewhat hilarious, actually.
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And this
The First Rule of Legal Fight Club Is ‘Don’t Piss Off the Judge’; the Second Rule of Legal Fight Club Is ‘Don’t Piss Off the Judge’
Link to: https://www.macrumors.com/2025/05/19/apple-fortnite-us-app-store-dispute/
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