Apple has decided to remove Epic Games’ battle royale sensation Fortnite from its App Store. The decision comes after Epic Games bypassed Apple’s 30% cut by implementing its own in-app payment system. In a statement to The Verge, Apples mentions it will "make every effort to work with Epic to resolve these violations so they can return Fortnite to the App Store" but without any plans for a “special arrangement”.

You can read the statement in full below:

Today, Epic Games took the unfortunate step of violating the App Store guidelines that are applied equally to every developer and designed to keep the store safe for our users. As a result their Fortnite app has been removed from the store. Epic enabled a feature in its app which was not reviewed or approved by Apple, and they did so with the express intent of violating the App Store guidelines regarding in-app payments that apply to every developer who sells digital goods or services.

Epic has had apps on the App Store for a decade, and have benefited from the App Store ecosystem - including it’s tools, testing, and distribution that Apple provides to all developers. Epic agreed to the App Store terms and guidelines freely and we’re glad they’ve built such a successful business on the App Store. The fact that their business interests now lead them to push for a special arrangement does not change the fact that these guidelines create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users. We will make every effort to work with Epic to resolve these violations so they can return Fortnite to the App Store.

SOURCE

[Update]
Google has followed suit, removing Fortnite from their own Play Store as well.

SOURCE

 

[Bladexdsl]

i'm glad epic is getting fucked over. but i hate it's apple doing it

 

[JFizDaWiz]

[redacted]

 

[smileyhead]

The moment I heard of Epic implementing their own IAP system I knew it wasn't going to go well.

 

[HeartfeltDesu]

Not that Epic needs the money, but other devs are getting fucked by this kind of greedy BS.

Just because they don't need the money doesn't mean they aren't entitled to it. The 30% cut is absolutely ludicrous.

 

[Joom]

oh they gave in after awhile arlright. all the kiddos likely cound't figure it out since it wasn't as simple as click download and play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.epicgames.fortnite

Well, the actual problem was that malicious actors were infecting the APK and rehosting it elsewhere, claiming it to be a modded version of the game that gave players free stuff. That and people were turning to third party storefronts that rehosted infected versions. You see this all the time with Android apps. This is why one shouldn't ever use third party markets or P2P sources, because they have absolutely no vetting process. That said, I know Google's process is piss poor, but at least there's something, and it's easier to verify if the app you're downloading is legitimate or not since you can check it against the publishing developer. And I also know that there are trustworthy sources for mods and cracks, but Google does well to get those scrubbed from search results, or they don't want to be found just in general. This leads to people ending up on some shady blog or whatever.

 

[jt_1258]

Well, the actual problem was that malicious actors were infecting the APK and rehosting it elsewhere, claiming it to be a modded version of the game that gave players free stuff. That and people were turning to third party storefronts that rehosted infected versions. You see this all the time with Android apps. This is why one shouldn't ever use third party markets or P2P sources, because they have absolutely no vetting process. That said, I know Google's process is piss poor, but at least there's something, and it's easier to verify if the app you're downloading is legitimate or not since you can check it against the publishing developer.

common sense would tell you to go to the original place it was hosted from being there site but I guess common sense isn't so common...

 

[Joom]

common sense would tell you to go to the original place it was hosted from being there site but I guess common sense isn't so common...

Not among 9 year olds at least. Kids are the easiest people in existence to spread malware to, and Fortnite is a perfect target.

 

[Xzi]

And so the credit cards of parents whose kids have iPhones are safe...for now.

 

[Taleweaver]

24 hours.....24 hours until Epic reinstates the Apple Pay IAP system

Heh...if I'm not mistaken, it was three minutes before you posted this that epic sues apple for this. So... I kind of have my doubts on reinstating.

Apples mentions it will "make every effort to work with Epic to resolve these violations so they can return Fortnite to the App Store" but without any plans for a “special arrangement”.

Yeah... The problem with that reasoning is that epic reasons different. And for good reasons, if I'm being honest. Unless I'm mistaken, your apple device cannot NOT use the app store to get your software installed. And that means they basically play the mafia ('nice app you've got there. Now pay me!').
I'm not sure why epic even bothers to sue. How many apple users does fortnite have to begin with? They'll get a proper pc, Android or console... If they don't already have at least one of those.

 

[NoNAND]

I hate stuff like this.

 

[the_randomizer]

Lol Apple again, oh well x3

 

[The Catboy]

Epic suing over this is pretty funny if you ask me. Like, they literally violated Apple's TOS and are now mad at Apple for enforcing the very same TOS Epic agreed to follow. I don't agree with Apple's practices and I think they do need to change, but that's not what Epic is after.

 

[Rail Fighter]

Apple never gave me any free shit that I will never player, so go Epic!

 

[JFizDaWiz]

[redacted]

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Good riddance.

Heh...if I'm not mistaken, it was three minutes before you posted this that epic sues apple for this. So... I kind of have my doubts on reinstating.

Yeah... The problem with that reasoning is that epic reasons different. And for good reasons, if I'm being honest. Unless I'm mistaken, your apple device cannot NOT use the app store to get your software installed. And that means they basically play the mafia ('nice app you've got there. Now pay me!').
I'm not sure why epic even bothers to sue. How many apple users does fortnite have to begin with? They'll get a proper pc, Android or console... If they don't already have at least one of those.

Apps can be sideloaded if they are signed with your personal dev key. The caveat is that key is only valid for a week or two from the day it's generated, so the apps need to be resigned and reinstalled frequently. There are apps on the app store that act like 3rd party app stores to facilitate sideloading certain apps such as emulators (easiest way to get them on a non-jailbroken device) by doing much of the work signing and installing them for you but they seem super sketchy and for some reason weren't immediately taken down by Apple. They surely must be breaking Apple's policies. They might well all be taken down now though, I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[RichardTheKing]

Good; always did think the "game" was awful, and loaded with overpriced transactions.
Hopefully Apple will do the same to GO and Tour...

 

[MetoMeto]

"Epic Games took the unfortunate step of violating the App Store guidelines that are applied
equally to every developer and designed to keep the store safe for our users."

How does this makes me safe??? It makes apple not having the 30% cut, not making users safe....

 

[JFizDaWiz]

[redacted]

 

[ZeroFX]

sweet

 

[DaveLister]

Come back here you yellow bellyed bastard I'll bite tour fucking balls off .

Iknight.montypython.