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

 

[Joom]

View attachment 221390
Gets removed from App Store then announces price drop on vbucks. Weird

That's basic marketing 101. You catch more flies with honey. ANYWAY, this story continues to unfold. Google just pulled Fortnite, too.
https://www.theverge.com/platform/a...d-banned-google-play-app-store-rule-violation

"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....

The logic here is that since payments aren't going through Apple's gate, users could be exposed to fraud. Even though Epic is a reputable company, these are Apple's garden wall terms. They trust nobody to handle payments except for themselves; for liability reasons, and to a lesser, conspiratorial extent, greed.

 

[xdarkx]

The title of this thread sounds like the Google app is removed from Play Store.

In any case, Apple and Google just wanted to get a pay cut on all the microtransactions from any app and has nothing to do with store safety. If they are actually looking out for end users, they would kick out any apps that have microtransactions. What a stupid statement from both companies.

 

[Deleted User]

I wouldn't mind if this and TikTok were actually banned, but as we know, something just replaces it. It's so awkward to see girls doing weird poses for a video on the street or at home.. meh.

This is bad for Apple because EU has now more ammunition in anti-trust investigation.

Because the EU is so trustworthy.

 

[Legendaykai]

NOw if only that tumour of a game is axed aswell as pokemon Go the world will be a much better place people should stick to consoles or pc not a mobile phone!

 

[the_randomizer]

And nothing of value was lost

 

[chrisrlink]

2nd lawsuit incomming in 3..2....

 

[JFizDaWiz]

[redacted]

 

[The Catboy]

I wonder if Epic is also going to sue Google? I also wonder if other companies like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo might follow behind these two? With how quickly Google pulled after Apple, I wonder if this is a common sentiment among platforms and they were just waiting for someone to move first so they could follow after?

 

[JuanMena]

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

HAHAHAHAHA!
What were they thinking?

 

[Kioku]

mobile games are games as much as console and PC.

I guess crosswords on the NY Times is a game, too?

 

[JuanMena]

I guess crosswords on the NY Times is a game, too?

 

[Kioku]

I wonder if Epic is also going to sue Google? I also wonder if other companies like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo might follow behind these two? With how quickly Google pulled after Apple, I wonder if this is a common sentiment among platforms and they were just waiting for someone to move first so they could follow after?

I think Epic is just trying to send a message. I can't fathom them throwing money away for lawsuits they more than likely won't win. Kind of funny, though. This is almost like their challenge to Steam and the like.

How so? Well, they threw millions of dollars to try and make a point about Steam and their cut on games and how "anti-consumer" they allegedly were. Didn't really work, so now they're targeting the mobile stores. Super fucking weird. Even for Sweeney.

 

[The Catboy]

I think Epic is just trying to send a message. I can't fathom them throwing money away for lawsuits they more than likely won't win. Kind of funny, though. This is almost like their challenge to Steam and the like.

How so? Well, they threw millions of dollars to try and make a point about Steam and their cut on games and how "anti-consumer" they allegedly were. Didn't really work, so now they're targeting the mobile stores. Super fucking weird. Even for Sweeney.

More of a hypothetical really, I doubt they will and I also doubt they will follow through with suing Apple. I am more interested in why Google so quickly followed behind and if this is going to start a trend. It feels like Google was just waiting for someone to make a move and then quickly jumped on the board when Apple started making moves. So now I am wondering, how many other companies might feel the same and or possibly follow suit? I doubt any will but it would be interesting if they did.

I guess crosswords on the NY Times is a game, too?

I am going to be honest with you, but mobile gaming has come a long way and there are literally full console ports on mobile phones. The idea that mobile gaming is still just Candy Crush and crosswords is extremely outdated.

 

[Kioku]

More of a hypothetical really, I doubt they will and I also doubt they will follow through with suing Apple. I am more interested in why Google so quickly followed behind and if this is going to start a trend. It feels like Google was just waiting for someone to make a move and then quickly jumped on the board when Apple started making moves. So now I am wondering, how many other companies might feel the same and or possibly follow suit? I doubt any will but it would be interesting if they did.

A difficult guess, I say. Epic violated the TOS of Apple's own appstore. Not a far cry to assume Google wasn't happy about the decision, either. I don't know. What I do know is that Sweeney is making mountains out of molehills. Of course, there is the issue that you can't easily use a secondary app store on iOS.. Whereas Android has a few.

I am going to be honest with you, but mobile gaming has come a long way and there are literally full console ports on mobile phones. The idea that mobile gaming is still just Candy Crush and crosswords is extremely outdated.

Moreso poking fun at the idea. I don't disagree that mobile gaming is a good contrast of what was. What with controllers being viable for mobile, so games like COD and Fortnite can thrive. Not to mention the graphical fidelity we see in games like Honkai. It's not a bad market.

 

[The Catboy]

A difficult guess, I say. Epic violated the TOS of Apple's own appstore. Not a far cry to assume Google wasn't happy about the decision, either. I don't know. What I do know is that Sweeney is making mountains out of molehills. Of course, there is the issue that you can't easily use a secondary app store on iOS.. Whereas Android has a few.



Moreso poking fun at the idea. I don't disagree that mobile gaming is a good contrast of what was. What with controllers being viable for mobile, so games like COD and Fortnite can thrive. Not to mention the graphical fidelity we see in games like Honkai. It's not a bad market.

I feel like they could have found a better way of going about this, personally I think Apple takes way too much from devs and Epic should have pushed that issue before going about violating a TOS they agreed to. Of course, Tom isn't looking to change Apple's practices through this lawsuit, they are just mad that they can't have all the money.
I might be a little touchy on mobile gaming because I kind of fell into mobile gaming due to how busy my own life is. I am almost always on the road due to work, personal affairs, and medical needs, so I really can only get my gaming fix through mobile gaming or my Switch. So I get a bit touchy when people shit on it since I actually really enjoy it. So there is bias on my end.

 

[Kioku]

I feel like they could have found a better way of going about this, personally I think Apple takes way too much from devs and Epic should have pushed that issue before going about violating a TOS they agreed to. Of course, Tom isn't looking to change Apple's practices through this lawsuit, they are just mad that they can't have all the money.
I might be a little touchy on mobile gaming because I kind of fell into mobile gaming due to how busy my own life is. I am almost always on the road due to work, personal affairs, and medical needs, so I really can only get my gaming fix through mobile gaming or my Switch. So I get a bit touchy when people shit on it since I actually really enjoy it. So there is bias on my end.

I 100% agree that there could and should have been a better approach... But... Given recent history with Tim and just throwing money into the proverbial shitter. It just seems appropriate that he'd do this. I also agree that it's more than likely about the money Epic isn't getting with the cut.

 

[MikaDubbz]

All these companies suck, but I think I still side more with Epic on this one. Kinda bullshit that Apple and Google take such huge cuts of in-game purchases just for hosting the game on their app stores. Obviously, Epic could go on just fine continuing to give such large cuts to Apple and Google, but on a princple level, it annoys me that any other dev has to follow suit, including indie devs that are just trying to make ends meet.

 

[Rahkeesh]

Not sure Epic is making any headway here but they did appear to have a big role in pushing Sony to get on with crossplay via aggressive means. They also aren't the only one suing Apple for its app store policies, so its more like they are piling on since the timing is right.

Suing Google right now would be trickier because the play store isn't the only way to get apps on your Android device.

 

[Legendaykai]

Correction they are APPS not games (those that use mobile phones for "games" sorry trying to maintain a straight face typing this Mobile "games are for filthy casuals not console or pc players. get that casual trash out of here!

 

[Tiger21820]