Microsoft supports Epic games, saying that blocking Apple access to unreal engine would hurt game makers

Fortnite creator Epic Games has claimed that Apple’s plan to end its membership in the Developer Program would be “vengeance” and “a legitimate attempt to maintain its monopoly and coax any action by others who might dare Apple against. “

Earlier this month, Epic Games strategically wrote Apple’s rules regarding in-app purchases by introducing its own direct payment option for in-currency in its hit game Fortnite on iOS. Apple immediately removed Fortnite from the App Store and informed Epic Games that its Developer Program membership would be terminated within two weeks, unless it re-launched Fortnite without the direct payment option.

By terminating the membership of the Developer Program, Epic Games is losing not only its ability to develop Fortnite for iOS, but also its popular game engine Unreal Engine for iOS and macOS, of which thousands of developers rely on their games.

File in a court of law [PDF] today, Epic Games said that several Unreal Engine licensors have contacted the company “and expressed serious concerns about Apple’s actions and their impact on its iOS and macOS-related projects,” including Microsoft.

In a statement in support of Epic Games [PDF], Microsoft gaming executor Kevin Gammill wrote that “stopping Apple from Epic’s ability to develop and support Unreal Engine for iOS as macOS will hurt game makers and gamers.” Specifically, Gammill said games with Unreal Engine would be placed at a “substantial disadvantage”, citing Microsoft’s own racing game Forza Street for iPhone and iPad as an example.

Apple has claimed that Epic Games committed “self-inflicted injuries” by deliberately violating its rules, stating that it could proceed with its lawsuit without introducing a direct payment option in the Fortnite app. Apple has also said it would be happy to see Fortnite back in the App Store as Epic Games tackles the breaches.

A hearing related to Epic Games’ request for a preliminary injunction, which would force Apple to return Fortnite to the App Store during the legal proceedings, is set for tomorrow at 3pm Pacific Time in California court.