- Last week, the wildly popular game “Fortnite” received an update on Apple and Android smartphones that allow players to bypass Apple and Google’s digital payment systems. Instead of Apple and Google, the payment went directly to “Fortnite” studio Epic Games.
- In response, Apple and Google pulled “Fortnite” from their respective digital store fragments, citing the upgrade as a condition of service. Epic Games sued both companies shortly thereafter for what it says is anti-competitive behavior.
- On Monday, the legal saga became more complicated: Epic filed for a temporary restraining order against Apple to keep the company from “deleting, writing off, refusing to list or otherwise making
the app ‘Fortnite,’ including any update thereof is not available. “ - Epic says Apple is threatening to boot from the Apple Developer Program – a move that Epic says would force it to stop iOS and Mac support for Unreal Engine, its popular game development software. That can mean big headaches for the many developers who use Unreal Engine on iOS.
- If approved by a judge, the temporary restraining order “Fortnite” could be reinstated on Apple’s smartphone and tablets.
- Visit the Business Insider website for more stories.
The legal battle between Apple and “Fortnite” maker Epic Games got another ripple on Monday: Epic Games filed a temporary restraining order against Apple with the intention of getting “Fortnite” back in Apple’s App Store.
If permitted by a judge, the restriction order would legally stop Apple from “removing, canceling, refusing to list or otherwise disabling the ‘Fortnite,’ including any update thereto.”
In short: It would put “Fortnite” back in the App Store, and Apple would stop blocking updates for the app.
Moreover, the submission revealed the potentially far-reaching impact of the legal battle between Apple and Epic. Epic will lose access to Apple’s Developer Program by August 28, the company said, if its app does not comply with the App Store guidelines. This would mean that all of Epic’s apps in the iOS App Store would be removed from the list. Importantly, Epic says, launching the program would also mean that it would not have access to certain Apple technology for developers.
Beyond “Fortnite”, Epic also makes the software suite Unreal Engine – a set of software used to create games, including the smartphone versions of “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.”
Without access to Apple’s development technology, Epic says it could not release updates for the Unreal Engine on iOS or Mac, which in turn would mean that any developer using the software to update their own games would not be able to update the new to support versions of iOS and Mac OS coming this year.
In their submission, Epic and CEO Tim Sweeney state that this would cause major problems for Unreal Engine users, who will have to face the major challenge of relaunching their games on iOS and Mac, as well as for Epic itself, which should stop supporting Apple’s platforms in the software.
“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. Epic also published a parody of Apple’s infamous 1984 ad, albeit within the “Fortnite” universe:
When reached for comment regarding Monday’s submission of Epic Games, an Apple representative reiterated the statement issued last week.
“Epic has enabled a feature in their app that has not been tested or approved by Apple, and they did so with the express intention of violating the App Store’s guidelines regarding in-app payments that apply to any developer who it sells digital goods or services, “Apple’s statement said. “Epic freely agreed to the terms and conditions of the App Store and we are pleased that they have built such a successful business on the App Store. The fact that their business interests are now leading them to push for a special arrangement does not change the fact that these guidelines create an equal playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users.We will do our utmost to work with Epic to resolve these violations so that they can bring ‘Fortnite’ back into the App Store, ‘Apple said in its statement.
