Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

The Verge: Apple has removed Epic Games’ battle royale Fortnite from the App Store after the developer on Thursday implemented its own in-app payment system that bypassed Apple’s standard 30 percent fee. The decision marks a significant escalation in the feud between Epic and one of the most popular mobile app stores in the US, and it comes at an especially fraught time for Apple as the iPhone maker navigates antitrust concerns over its operation of its mobile marketplace and the rules it imposes on certain developers.

[crazyCoconuts]

This war is gonna be epic

[LG_Fox_Brazil]

I see what you did there ( ಠ ͜ʖಠ)

[porkChop]

Apple will lose. The market is tired of Apple's greed and ridiculous restrictions. Apple needs developers more than developers need Apple. If all those apps end up being Android exclusive where does Apple think the users will go?

[Profchaos]

I feel like the vast majority of people playing games on iPhones are more so younger kids using parents devices who will just find another game on the platform like cod mobile.

I can't see something like fortnite or Xbox game pass causing people to rush over to Android as the fanbase of apple is more so a type of user that isn't highly technical can do the basics and likes their phone experience to stay constant for the last 10 years.

iOS devices are also the most popular choice for companies giving staff mobile devices looking at many large companies MDM solution's it's always an overwhelming 90% iOS userbase which is unfortunate I've been using an android for 5 years now and I finally feel free of Apple my device achieves so much more and costs half of an iOS device

[crazyCoconuts]

Apps won't go to Android only because they want to be where their customers are. My kids refuse to touch an Android phone, spoiled lil' brats that they are lol. As of now, only way Apple loses is through litigation

[preciousdeath]

So, do you also think Sony and Microsoft are greedy for not allowing Steam, EGS, etc. on their consoles?

[zackeroniii]

apple and microsoft are literally in the same ballpark it's crazy... and i used to be an owner of products from both companies until i realized how limited and evil they are and therefore moved on to better brands

[kneon]

@crazyCoconuts

Android is where the customers are. Apple market share typically hovers in the 10-17% range depending on the quarter. The rest are almost all Android.

[RedDevils]

Yeah, what with apple making me pay for everything, the same app on play store is free, while app store you have to purchase it.

[crazyCoconuts]

@kneon, sorry I was thinking US market where Apple has a lead, but you're right globally, good point

[UltraNova]

First Xcloud now Fortnite. What's Apple trying to do? Are they really asking for an anticompetative practice lawsuit?

[Vegamyster]

Well Epic directly violated there terms and services knowing full well this would probably happen, it'll be interesting to see what happens.

[dazsarge]

They were planning this since quite some time. Today they publicly tweeted their legal papers against Apple immediately after Fortnite got removed.

[morganfell]

It is a real choice move from a company that practices anti-consumer behavior and fears real competition so they hold games hostage on their own store. And I agree with you. It is obvious Epic had decided to sue and merely forced an opportunity to file.

[UltraNova]

I'm wondering if this is connected to Tencent in any way...

[Atom666]

Claims are already going in EU. Spotify has helped initiate it, and others have joined.

[GottaBjimmyb]

Yea, Apple will most likely lose, the suit against Google, despite appearing the same will absolutely fail, Google allows 3rd party APKs to be installed, so Google is not blocking use on their devices, just in their store, hard argument to win there. In Google's case they effectively say "if you want to be on our store and have the tools and marketing advantages of the store, 30%" if not market and platform your product as you see fit.

[0rbital71]

no one cares about apple gaming, sony microsoft pc and ninty only

[GOULDYBOBS]

Bit like UEFA with "Financial Fair Play"

[Chexs1990]

I will enjoy watching Apple burn - They have had this coming for a long damn time

[Muigi]

That’s more like wishful thinking tbh.

[Sonyslave3]

Good

[contra157]

This is amazing!!!!! 😎 woooo!!

[KwietStorm_BLM]

Apple really don't give half a shit about any standards or practices in the whole tech industry if it ain't coming directly from them. I still chuckle every time I see the term Retina Display.

And is anyone else getting this Google rewards popup on mobile?

[morganfell]

Run the Brave browser

[sourOG]

Wasn’t tencent banned in the US? What does that mean for epic and unreal?

[Tacoboto]

No one knows what it means, not even the PrEsIdEnT. Some people suggest it will only really be WeChat-related but... we'll see I guess.

[RazzerRedux]

Tencent was not banned anywhere that I'm aware of. I think you are thinking of TikTok or Huawei.

[sourOG]

“ Section 1 (a), whose language differs only in the named company. “The following actions shall be prohibited beginning 45 days after the date of this order, to the extent permitted under applicable law: any transaction that is related to WeChat by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, with Tencent Holdings Ltd. (a.k.a. Téngxùn Kònggǔ Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī), Shenzhen, China, or any subsidiary of that entity, as identified by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) under section 1(c) of this order.”

Tencent owns 40% of epic.

[RazzerRedux]

Ok....so a single app from Tencent was banned by Trump. Tencent itself was not banned at all.

[sourOG]

Ok......

[sourOG]

The company that owns an app that collects data for the CCP has nothing to worry about. Ok thanks for answering my question. Appreciated.

To be clear. I wouldn’t care if tencent was banned as long as it didn’t affect the unreal engine. Good riddance.

[Majin-vegeta]

All of a sudden millions of cries were heard..

[Mithan]

Kicking Fornite off to make an example is probably the "smart" move and they did violate their terms. Rumor is they were making $500-600k a day from Epic at its peak. If Epic "wins" this, it is bad for Apple obviously. Its probably smarter to hold the line for now and keep their 30% cut, rather than cave in and have to reduce it for everybody, which would cost Apple far far more in the long run.

Steam does the same thing, and so do many other carriers. Microsoft and Sony charge a 30% cut to the games they sell on their respective stores for example.

Now obviously, that isn't "free profit" like many stupid people want to think. It is expensive to provide data centers, bandwidth, develop an app store, etc and those things cost billions a year.

However, this really ends up being about what the "fair" price is? 20%? 5%? 25%? Apple will fight this tooth and nail.

[Baza]

Epic circumventing the system was a slick move but at the end of the day it violates the agreement for being on the App Store. Does apple get a big cut on transactions, sure. But that’s part of the deal to being on the most used app distribution platform in the world.

[crazyCoconuts]

Exactly. They could say - epic, go build your own phone and you can put whatever you want on it.

[Mithan]

Agreed. I find it comical people downvoted you as well, utterly stupid. Everything you said is based on facts. I wish they would get rid of the voting system here, it makes this site crap.

I have zero issues with Epic pushing for a lawsuite to change the practice, they can do whatever they want, but they BROKE THE TERMS OF SERVICE. Apple is 100% in the right to remove them.

Now, should those terms of service exist at all? The courts will decide.

[crazyCoconuts]

There's actually nothing wrong with charging whatever you want on your platform, with the assumption the free market giveth, and taketh away. That allowed Epic to come in and change Steam. Problem is when there business starts looking like a monopoly. MS Windows with Internet Explorer was a good example. Apple will probably get spanked in the same way.

[Rachel_Alucard]

One company isn't going to magically get Apple to change its ways since not even a government can.

[GoodGuy09]

Lol damn apple

[Atomicjuicer]

Apple need to negotiate. They are losing customers to android over this crap with xcloud.

Let people stream whatever the fuc they want on their phones.

Its the same problem that nvidia Geforce now has where greedy publishers think they can tell users where they can and can't stream games they've already purchased.

[crazyCoconuts]

Losing customers to Android over XCloud... Not even a rounding error for Apple

[jwillj2k4]

No one is losing customers over not being able to play xcloud...

[CrimsonWing69]

Thanks Apple for nothing. Now I need to get a Samsung Tablet to play Xcloud on and any other games you take off the store.

[AFKghost]

Fuuuuuu Apple.

[esemce]

Fucapple.

[Ryzza5]

Tim Sweeny is clever. Remember when Sony kept saying cross platform multiplayer was too hard and Tim 'accidentally' enabled it, proving them wrong... Now we have quite a few cross platform multiplayer games after Sony relaxed restrictions.

Instead of having a newly submitted app banned for vague reasons, if Tim has an already approved app suddenly removed for one single change regarding payment processing, it removes all doubt surrounding the anti competitive behavior. The epic store has its own issues of course, but the apple store is long overdue to be addressed.

[whitbyfox]

Screw Fortnite wish they’d bring back Flappy Bird.

[Mandingo2020]

Google just pulled it from the play store too. 😂

[Abnor_Mal]

https://www-theverge-com.cd...

They went for the jugular.

[Phoenix76]

Not surprised really. Epic games are 40% owned by Tencent. A chance to remove any product associated with China, from within America in all the rage atm.

[DeadManMMX]

They wanted this. This is interesting. Epic leveraging Fortnite against Apple now.

[badboyz09]

tuff

[AuraAbjure]

Apple doesn't care about gaming. They had halo. One and done.

[yeahokwhatever]

I hate Apple and Fornite evenly. I hope they both die in the knife fight.

[Elda]

LMAO!!

[MightyHealthy]

so did the play store

[OG_TK_Cole]

I think you guys think Apple is G.O.D. your all about to be in for a rude awakening. When the Government of the United States and other Governments come for you because they are "Jealous" you usually lose not only the Battle, but you lose the War as well. Guys the Government Of The United States will make an example out of Apple, like they did to AT&T in January 8, 1982, with the Breakup of the Bell System. Trust me, its going to take a few years, but its going to happen.

[VTKC]

Apple. Fleecing Hipsters since 2007.