In the latest episode of drama between US tech giants and app makers, Fortnite has been delisted from both Google Play and the App Store. Epic Games, the maker of the popular battle royale game, Fortnite, has found itself in hot soup after updating the app to include a direct payment option.
The move seems like a way for Epic Games to keep the full amount paid by users purchasing various in-app offerings bypassing the 30 per cent cut taken by both Google and Apple. But, closer examination uncovers a different picture. Epic Games says foregoing the 30 per cent cut will result in cheaper prices for in-app purchases, saving the consumer some cash as a result.
By offering an alternate payment system, we’re not only offering players more choice, but we’re able to pass along the savings to players
Epic Games
Both Alphabet’s Google and Apple take a 30 per cent cut from both app and in-app purchases across their application stores and forbid developers from using direct payment methods.
The two tech giants defended their store policies as a way to ensure the security of users. However, both companies have opened the doors for discussion to return Fortnite to their respective stores.
Epic Games’ decision seems to have irked the two tech giants. Apple called the move as intentional. Epic Games “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,” the company said.
Apple riases concerns that the violation may have been done with an intent to push for a special arrangement. Like Amazon’s maybe? Apple recently entered a special agreement with Amazon exempting the Prime Video app from the 30 per cent fee on TV show and movie rentals.
In its defence, Epic Games seems to be more interested in tussling the two tech behemoths. For long, the company has raised concerns on app store and Google Play policies.
Epic Games pulled Fortnite out of the Play Store in 2018 over the 30 per cent cut but later learned it’s hard to survive from outside returning the app in April 2020.
Android users can still install Fortnite, but for Apple users, there is no way to install the app because of the closed nature of iOS.
And it’s not just Epic Games, several other companies including Spotify have also raised concerns over store policies, especially with Apple. Apple has a well-documented history of exercising massive control over the platform. Apple specifically has been at the centre of scrutiny of its App store policies for inconsistencies.
Microsoft also recently condemned Apple’s stringent App store guidelines for blocking the entry of its cloud gaming service, xCloud. From the Microsoft-Apple clash, it was revealed that Apple’s rules do not allow cloud gaming and game subscription services, thus locking out services like Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass, Google’s Stadia and NVIDIA’s GeForce Now.
Epic Games has filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Apple and Google over the removal of Fortnite.
