The struggle between Apple and Epic Games is gaining momentum - the Cupertino-based company has removed the developer account from its...
The struggle between Apple and Epic Games is gaining momentum - the Cupertino-based company has removed the developer account from its store, which prevents Epic Games from submitting updates to existing ones and will not be able to download new games and applications. Note that we are not talking about developer accounts that use Unreal Engine - Epic Games managed to get an injunction for this action.
After deleting an account in the App Store, the Epic Games page on which the developer's games were previously collected disappeared, the Fortnite page disappeared even earlier.
Apple has released an official statement on this matter:
“We are disappointed that we had to remove our Epic Games account from the App Store.We've worked with the Epic Games team for many years. The court recommended that Epic adhere to the App Store rules while their case is pending - the very rules that they followed over the past decade until they themselves created this situation.Epic refused. Instead, they constantly send Fortnite updates that violate App Store policies. This is unfair to all other developers in the App Store and endangers users. We hope to be able to work together again in the future, but unfortunately this is not possible today. "
The reaction of the head of Epic Games, Tim Sweeney, followed almost immediately:
“Apple's statement is not entirely straightforward. They chose the option to delete their Epic Games account, although they were not required to do so.Apple said we "spam" them with updates, but we are not. [Lately] Epic Games has sent just three updates - two with bug fixes and one with the latest Season 4. "
Recall that after Epic Games secretly installed the Fortnite update with a third-party monetization system , Apple not only removed the game from the App Store, but also threatened to delete Epic Games developer accounts and disable the company from access to all software creation tools on iOS and Mac. Apple also accused Epic Games of wanting to get "special deals " for itself by using Fortnite players as pressure.
Almost immediately, Epic Games went to court to get a temporary ban on these actions, and also accused Apple of violating antitrust laws. In addition, Epic Games filed another lawsuit against Apple, accusing it of illegal pressure on the Unreal Engine ( and it was supported by Microsoft ). Having heard the arguments of both parties, the court decided to grant Epic Games ' petition to issue a temporary ban , but only in the part concerning the removal of Unreal Engine developer accounts from iOS and Mac platforms. The next meeting is scheduled for September 28, 2020.
Source: Techcrunch
