iPhones with ‘Fortnite’ are sold for thousands

• Last week, the wildly popular game “Fortnite” received an update on Apple and Android smartphones that allowed players to bypass the companies’ digital payment systems. Payments went directly to the “Fortnite” studio, Epic Games, instead of Apple and Google.
• In response, Apple and Google pulled “Fortnite” out of their digital store fragments, citing the upgrade as a breach of services. Epic Games sued both companies shortly thereafter for what it says is anti-competitive behavior.
• If you already have “Fortnite” on your iPhone, Apple has no way to remove it – and some iPhone owners with “Fortnite” have taken to eBay with their phones, with ads up to $ 10,000.
• Visit the Business Insider website for more stories.

If you were one of the millions of people who downloaded “Fortnite” before it was pulled from Apple’s App Store last week, you still have it – Apple can’t remove the game from your iPhone. But if you did not have that, would you be willing to pay as much as $ 10,000 for an iPhone with the game pre-installed?

That’s what re-sellers on eBay are hoping for.

A search of eBay’s U.S. store on Wednesday, with the keyword, “iphone fortnite installed,” yielded more than 100 ads from re-sellers using various iPhone models. A search for “fortnite iphone” comes up even more.

The $ 10,000 option above, for example, comes with the game pre-installed on the 2017 iPhone X model.

Notably, “Fortnite” is a free-to-play game that is available on almost every gaming platform. Moreover, the game can be played across competing gaming platforms – whether you’re playing on Nintendo Switch, iPhone, PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Android, or Mac, you can play with other “Fortnite” players.

In short, if you are looking for a way to play “Fortnite” other than your iPhone, there are many options. Given that, and the high prices attached to many eBay ads, it is no surprise that most have zero bids.

eBay

Although “Fortnite” was released from Apple’s App Store last week, it’s likely not to be released forever – it’s one of the most popular games in the world, and Apple has repeatedly stated that it wants to release the game.

“We want to keep the company very much as part of the Apple Developer Program and its apps in the Store,” Apple said in a statement this week. “The problem that Epic has created for itself is one that can be easily remedied if they submit an update to their app that reimburses them to meet the guidelines they agree on and that apply to all developers. “

“Fortnite” was pulled from Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store late last week following an update released by Epic that allowed users to bypass Apple’s and Google’s digital payment systems. Instead of buying virtual money in the game (“V-bucks”) through Apple or Google, players could buy them directly from Epic – with a 30% discount, no less.

In response, the two major smartphone conglomerates pulled “Fortnite” from their respective digital storefronts. Epic Games, expected so much, filed suit against each company.

Got a tip? Contact Business Insider Senior Correspondent Ben Gilbert by email ([email protected]), of Twitter DM (@realbengilbert). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a device without work to reach. PR pitches by email only, please.