Popular videogame Fortnite pulled off Apple, Google iphone app stores
Apple and Google on Thursday pulled gaming sensation Fortnite from their mobile iphone app shops following its maker Epic Games released an update that dodges earnings sharing with the tech giants.
The most recent version of Fortnite contains a payment system that lets player transactions bypass Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play, stopping the organizations from collecting their typical thirty percent cut.
Apple, which does not allow users of its popular devices to download software from anywhere but its App Store, booted the overall game from its online marketplace, followed later Thursday by Google.
Epic quickly filed a federal lawsuit against Apple, accusing the iPhone maker of wielding monopoly power.
The game-maker called on a federal judge to order Apple to avoid its “anti-competitive conduct” and invalidate the tech giant’s rules requiring iphone app developers to pay the business 30 percent of transactions.
The suit said Epic isn't seeking favorable treatment, but is asking the court to order Apple to improve its commission structure for all developers.
Apple said Fortnite was pulled after “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.”
Google followed suit and removed Fortnite from its Play store for cellular devices powered by its Android software.
“For game developers who want to use the Play Store, we've regular policies that are fair to developers and keep carefully the store safe for users,” Google said in reply to an AFP inquiry.
Gamers will still be in a position to play Fortnite on their cellular devices, though Apple users will no longer manage to receive updates because those would have to come through the App Store.
Android users can still download updates directly from Epic.
Ruling the App Store
Apple has in recent months come under fire for the tight grip it is wearing the App Store, with the problem coming up during a heated congressional antitrust hearing last month.
“Apple has become what it once railed against: the behemoth wanting to control markets, block competition, and stifle innovation,” the lawsuit argued.
“Apple is bigger, better, more entrenched, and more pernicious compared to the monopolists of yesteryear.”
The Silicon Valley colossus has defended its position, saying its commission-which can drop to 15 percent in the next year for subscriptions-helps it keep software and users safe from hackers and scammers.
“Epic agreed to the App Store terms and guidelines freely and we’re glad they’ve built such an effective business on the App Store,” Apple said.
“The actual fact that their business interests now lead them to push for a particular arrangement does not change the fact these guidelines create an even playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users.”
Fortnite has been played by some 350 million persons all over the world since its release in 2017. Occur a virtual world, players must survive by looking for weapons and resources while eliminating competitors.
It is also a favorite e-sports title where spectators watch expert players compete, sometimes for cash prizes.
Epic is going for a “risky and calculated path” by seeking Apple at the same time that the App Store is under scrutiny by antitrust regulators, reasoned Wedbush analyst Dan Ives.
“This is a higher stakes game of poker being played,” Ives said.
“Apple needs to ensure the Epic challenge, which is timely in light of anti-trust swirls and growing opposition to Big Tech within the Beltway, does not create a ripple impact which developers globally are watching carefully,” Ives said.
