After losing in court, Fortnite maker barred from Apple’s developer tools
Apple said Friday it has followed through on its decision to block the maker of Fortnite from developer tools needed to update games on its mobile devices.
The proceed to suspend Epic Games from the iOS developers programme came just days after a US court rejected its bid to have Fortnite reinstated on the App Store, saying its eviction by Apple was a “self-inflicted wound.”
The ruling against Epic Games comes amid a battle over whether Apple’s tight control over the App Store, and its own thirty percent cut of revenue, counts as monopolistic behavior.
“We are disappointed that people have had to terminate the Epic Games account on the App Store,” Apple said in reply to an AFP inquiry.
Apple pulled Fortnite from its online mobile software marketplace on August 13 after Epic released an update that dodges revenue sharing with the iPhone maker.
Apple will not allow users of its popular devices to download software from anywhere but its App Store.
The Silicon Valley-based tech giant told Epic it would cut off usage of tools had a need to tailor software for devices powered by the iPhone maker’s os's.
A judge’s ruling this week prevented Apple from also cutting Epic faraway from usage of developers tools for its Unreal Engine that powers graphics on computers.
“The court recommended that Epic adhere to the App Store guidelines while their case moves forward,” Apple said.
“Epic has refused. Instead they repeatedly submit Fortnite updates made to violate the rules of the App Store.”
Apple contended Epic was putting Fortnite players in the middle of a budding battle relating to the companies.
“Apple is asking that Epic revert Fortnite to exclusively use Apple payments,” Epic said in answer an AFP inquiry.
“As a matter of principle, we won’t participate in this scheme.”
Apple is no more allowing Epic to submit applications or updates with a developer account.
Players with previous versions of Fortnite can still play on iPhones or iPads, but will have to depend on Apple’s payment system for transactions.
