- In mid-August, the wildly popular game “Fortnite” received an update on Apple and Android smartphones allowing players to bypass digital app store app store: Instead of continuing through Apple and Google, payments went directly to “Fortnite” maker Epic Games.
- Apple and Google subsequently pulled “Fortnite” out of their digital storefronts, citing the upgrade as a condition of service delivery. Apple also kicked Epic out of the Apple Developer Program, a move that Epic said would force it to stop iOS and Mac support for its popular software development software Unreal Engine.
- Epic sued both companies, and filed for a temporary restraining order against Apple to prevent it from “deleting, deleting, rejecting listings or otherwise making the ‘Fortnite’ app unavailable, including any renewal thereof.” The sequence would also enable Epic to support Unreal Engine on Apple devices.
- In a surprise twist, Microsoft is supporting Epic in the ongoing legal spate. Microsoft general manager of gaming developer Kevin Gammill on Sunday officially filed a letter in court in support of Epic.
- Visit the Business Insider website for more stories.
In the ongoing legal battle between Apple and “Fortnite” maker Epic Games, the latter just got an unexpected ally.
Microsoft general manager of gaming developer Kevin Gammill on Sunday officially filed a letter in court in support of Epic. He wrote not because he’s worse about “Fortnite” being pulled from the App Store, but because of the ripple effects of this particular legal battle between Apple and Epic.
Gammill is working with game developers on behalf of Microsoft’s Xbox, and he fears that Apple’s move to cut development ties with Epic “will hurt game creators and gamers.”
That’s because, outside of “Fortnite,” Epic also makes the Unreal Engine software pack – a set of software used to create games, including the smartphone versions of “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds” and, of special note here, Microsoft-published smartphone racer “Forza Street.”
When Apple launched “Fortnite” from the App Store, the company also canceled contracts for Epic’s Developer Program effective August 28th. 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 would not be able to update their own games to the new ones. versions of iOS and Mac OS to support next year.
In short: A variety of games on Apple’s App Store could be affected by Epic losing access to Apple’s developer program.
“Apple’s stopping Epic’s ability to develop and support Unreal Engine for iOS as well as macOS will hurt game makers and gamers,” Gammill said in a letter to the court. He described Unreal Engine as “critical technology for several game makers including Microsoft,” and said the move to revoke Epic’s access could “build already corrupted iOS and macOS games on Unreal Engine.”
Although Gammill’s statement was not released by Microsoft, Xbox leader Phil Spencer characterized Gammill’s statement as being on behalf of the company.
Epic Games updated “Fortnite” to buy players in the currency directly through Epic, bypassing Apple and Google policies.
Epic games
“Fortnite” was pulled from Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store on August 13 following an update released by Epic that gave users the option to bypass the companies’ digital payment systems.
Instead of buying virtual money in the game (“V-bucks”) through Apple or Google, players could buy it directly from Epic – with a 20% discount, no less. Apple and Google said the update was a service violation for a developer with an app in the App Store or Google Play Store.
In response, the two major smartphone conglomerates pulled “Fortnite” from their respective digital storefronts. Epic Games, so many expected, filed suit against each company – the first public shot in an ongoing campaign by Epic CEO Tim Sweeney to change how Apple’s App Store works.
Apple said in a statement last week that it “will make no exception to Epic” to App Store policies, which force any app publisher to use Apple’s payment systems, “because we do not think it’s good for their business interests. advancing the guidelines that protect our customers. “
Apple is contesting the filing of Epic for a temporary security order, and the first hearing is set for Monday, August 24th.
