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As previously warned by Apple, Epic’s App Store account has now been terminated due to the Fortnite developer knowingly violating App Store policy. Epic Games still had a few apps available for iOS aside from Fortnite, and they were all removed today.
Fortnite for iOS was updated earlier this month with a new option that allowed users to purchase in-game items directly through Epic’s payment system instead of using Apple’s In-App Purchases. Once Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store, Epic Games started a public campaign and a legal battle against Apple, which led the Cupertino-based company to announce that it would terminate Epic’s developer account.
That’s exactly what Apple did this Friday, August 28. As first noticed by John Voorhes from MacStories on Twitter, the App Store now shows an alert saying “this app is currently not available in your country or region” when you try to access Epic’s profile or any of their apps through a direct link, such as this one from Infinity Blade Stickers app.
It’s worth mentioning that Epic Games has an alternative Apple account to manage its Unreal Engine, which according to a judge cannot be blocked by Apple in retaliation for the Fortnite situation. The account that was blocked today was only used to offer Fortnite and some other apps from Epic, which consequently will now prevent the company from offering any updates to its game on Apple platforms.
Update: Apple has now shared an official statement about terminating Epic’s App Store account.
We are disappointed that we have had to terminate the Epic Games account on the App Store. We have worked with the team at Epic Games for many years on their launches and releases. The court recommended that Epic comply with the App Store guidelines while their case moves forward, guidelines they’ve followed for the past decade until they created this situation. Epic has refused. Instead they repeatedly submit Fortnite updates designed to violate the guidelines of the App Store. This is not fair to all other developers on the App Store and is putting customers in the middle of their fight. We hope that we can work together again in the future, but unfortunately that is not possible today.
Apple will follow a judge’s decision not to ban the Epic Games SARL account, which is used by Epic to offer Unreal Engine to other games and apps. Epic Games was given 14 days to update the Fortnite app according to the App Store Review Guidelines, but Epic purposely refused to update the game.
As expected, Epic is completely banned from the App Store, which means that the game company cannot send new apps or updates to iOS users through its developer account. If you have already downloaded Fortnite on your iPhone or iPad, you can continue playing it in its latest version approved by Apple.
All in-game purchases of items through Apple’s In-App Purchases system will no longer work due to Epic’s account ban. Users can also no longer restore Fortnite or in-game purchased items if they delete the app from their iPhones and iPads.
After Apple’s statement, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said he disagrees that the company has “spammed” the App Store review process with new Fortnite builds for iOS.
Apple's statement isn't forthright. They chose to terminate Epic's account; they didn't *have* to. Apple suggests we spammed the App Store review process. That's not so. Epic submitted three Fortnite builds: two bug-fix updates, and the Season 4 update with this note. pic.twitter.com/VpWEERDp5L — Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) August 28, 2020
Yesterday, Epic Games sent an email to Fortnite players once again emphasizing that the iOS and Mac versions of the game are now officially blocked from receiving updates. That means Fortnite players on Apple platforms have also lost access to multi-platform game modes. Fortnite wasn’t offered through the App Store for Mac users, however the company needs its developer account to certify the game as a trusted app.
While Epic Games is now officially banned from the App Store, Apple is tactfully promoting PUBG Mobile for iOS users, which is an alternative popular battle royale game that competes directly with Fortnite.
The first hearing of the case between Apple and Epic Games is expected to take place at the end of September.
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chocolatefingerz on August 28th, 2020 at 21:39 UTC »
Someone explain to me:
Xbox charges 30% PS4 charges 30% Steam charges 30% Nintendo charges 30% (used to be 35%) Google play charges 30% Microsoft charges 30% Twitch (owned by Amazon) charges 50% Amazon charges 20% Epic’s own market place charges 12%, and 5% for unrealEpic says that this whole suit is "ABOUT FREEDOM, NOT PROFIT", but yet they're not suing Nintendo/Microsoft/Sony. Instead, they're suing Google, which they can already sideload (and tried, and failed).
If it's about freedom, why is Epic only going after Apple/Google here? Why is Apple being singled out as the villian in all their PR?
Their PR message and their actions just do not add up. If they want money, just be up front about it, stop this virtuous "WE REPRESENT FREEDOM FOR THE GAMERS" bullshit.
Edit: Man people are really jumping through mental hoops here to justify things for Epic, I'll address some of the same questions that get repeapted.
"All of these have alternative storefronts!"
No... they don't. Xbox and PS4 for example do not. Nintendo does not."Xbox and PS4 are for games and are dedicated devices so they shouldn't count!"
First, no they're not. They have web browsers, TV shows, Movies, Xbox was literally released as the family entertainment system. They're a computer like anything else. Second, why shouldn't they count just because they're dedicated? Epic is a video game company, shouldn't that make MORE sense that they deserve their own marketplace?"PS4 and Xbox are sold at a loss so they deserve more!"
First, Nintendo. Secondly, they've said that they recoup the total cost on the first game. Thirdly, why does that matter? Epic's argument is that this is about FREEDOM, not profit."Epic just wants to lower the cut because they know no one wants an alternative store!"
No, they're not. Read the lawsuit, they literally say they their goal is to build their own app store. Section I.D.90 Epic Games: "Absent Apple's Anti-Competitive conduct, Epic Games would create an app store for iOS." https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/apple-complaint-734589783.pdfHaveSomeRenaWare on August 28th, 2020 at 21:26 UTC »
Well, they are in luck, as I believe PUBG is next month's free game on for PS+ members on the PS4.
iSnortMold on August 28th, 2020 at 21:05 UTC »
Quite honestly Epic is just being ridiculous at this point. Is there a discussion to be had about what percentage apple takes from app store sales? Definitely. But Epic isn’t fighting for that. They’re fighting to fundamentally change Apples ecosystem for their benefit. That’s not how this works.
Many Apple users, myself included, prefer iOS because the apps are much more polished and uniform. I don’t have to hand out my card to a billion companies. There are a lot of benefits that I have from the ecosystem.
Epic really should just give up and be happy with the billions they were already making.