Rewriting Fortnite's Apple Saga: A Judge's Scathing Rebuke and its Aftermath
Apple has prohibited the availability of Fortnite in the United States' app store, as reported by Epic Games.
In a striking turn of events, the popular game Fortnite on Apple devices has been temporarily yanked offline due to Apple blocking an app update provided by Epic Games. The drama unfolded just weeks after a judge's ruling that slashed the commissions Apple collects from third-party app sales through its App Store.
The one-two punch between Epic Games and Apple came amid cheers from app developers, who celebrated the judge's ruling as a triumph against the infamous 'Apple tax'. Many developers pledged to pass on the savings to their customers.
In her scathing critique, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers sided with Epic Games, accusing Apple of anticompetitive behavior. Under her ruling, Apple can no longer charge commissions on purchases made outside the U.S. by Apple users through links within iPhone apps that direct them to external websites [1][2]. Developers, who rely on these sales for their digital goods and services, are eager to avoid giving Apple a sales cut by steering their customers to alternative websites.
"Apple thought this court would tolerate such insubordination was a gross miscalculation," wrote the judge in her ruling [3].
Epic Games' CEO Tim Sweeney announced earlier this month that Fortnite would resume its presence on the App Store in the U.S. and possibly worldwide if Apple adheres to the court's "friction free, Apple tax-free framework" globally. However, the Fortnite X account recently informed users that Apple blocked their app update submission [4].
While Apple claimed it requested Epic Sweden to resubmit the app update without the U.S. storefront of the App Store to avoid impacting its availability in other regions, it maintained that it didn't take any action to remove the live version of Fortnite from alternative distribution channels [5].
Analyst Rob Enderle from the Enderle Group explained that Apple wants to hold on to its control worldwide despite the recent ruling that applies only to the U.S. Apple makes considerable profits through apps [6]. The current dispute poses a significant test for Apple's expansion into the app market and its relationship with developers.
Digging further, Epic Games first filed the lawsuit against Apple in 2020. The gaming giant wanted to enable users to buy items outside Apple's system to avoid the company's commission charges [7]. While the court didn't declare Apple a monopoly in the mobile gaming market, it did order Apple to allow app developers to include links for external purchases within their apps [8]. Apple, however, defied the order, as mentioned in the court's ruling [9].
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Beyond the Headlines
- Epic Games challenges Apple by using Fortnite as a weapons in court battle
- Apple's developer guidelines expanded to comply with court decision
- Apple plans to appeal the judge's ruling in case against Epic Games
- The latest development in the ongoing battle between Epic Games and Apple involves Fortnite, as its update has been blocked on Apple devices, causing the popular game to be temporarily taken offline.
- In a move that could impact the business relationships between app developers and Apple, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers' ruling slashed the commissions Apple collects from third-party app sales, a decision that has been welcomed by app developers.
- The entertainment industry, particularly Hollywood, has taken notice of the fortnight-long drama between Epic Games and Apple, as the ruling could potentially reshape the business models not only for gaming apps but also for entertainment and smartphone technology.
- As the legal proceedings unfold, the California-based Epic Games continues to push for a more open and competitive app market, aiming to provide greater flexibility and autonomy for both developers and consumers, setting a precedent for the future of the app industry.
