Apple blocked “Fortnite” maker Epic Games from launching its own third-party app store for iPhone and iPad customers in Europe – a shocking escalation of the long-running legal feud between the 2 tech giants.
The Cupertino, Calif-based company terminated the developer account for Epic Games’ Swedish affiliate, effectively nixing the video game maker’s plans to supply “Fortnite” and its “Epic Games Store” on to Apple customers. Apple had approved the developer account just a number of weeks earlier.
The broadside got here on the eve of a key deadline to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act – a sweeping law aimed reining in Apple and other so-called “gatekeeper” tech firms. Apple had previously announced it might allow third-party app stores on its devices with a view to comply with the brand new rules.
Epic Games described Apple’s move as a “serious violation of the DMA” that “shows Apple has no intention of allowing true competition on iOS devices.”
Epic Games and Apple have engaged in a long-running legal war. REUTERS
“In terminating Epic’s developer account, Apple is taking out certainly one of the biggest potential competitors to the Apple App Store,” Epic Games said in a press release. “They’re undermining our ability to be a viable competitor and so they are showing other developers what happens if you attempt to compete with Apple or are critical of their unfair practices.”
Apple said in a press release that it believes it has the precise to revoke Epic’s developer agreement because past court rulings found it has “sole discretion” to terminate such deals for contract violations.
“In light of Epic’s past and ongoing behavior, Apple selected to exercise that right,” Apple said.
As a part of a compliance plan published in January, Apple said it might allow developers to opt-out of its App Store payment system. Nonetheless, Apple would retain the precise to review their apps before they might be sold to iPhone customers and would charge a “core technology fee” – moves that violated the spirit of Europe’s latest law, based on the corporate’s critics.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney had publicly ripped Apple’s plan for example of “malicious compliance,” referring to the corporate’s proposed rules as “hot garbage” and a “horror show” in a scathing tweet.
Epic Games is best often known as the publisher of “Fortnite.” SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
In one other eyebrow-raising twist, Epic Games said Apple informed them the move was partially attributable to Sweeney’s public criticism of its business practices on X. To back up the claim, Epic took the rare step of publishing a letter it received from Apple App Store chief Phil Schiller.
“Your colourful criticism of our DMA compliance plan, coupled with Epic’s past practice of intentionally violating contractual provisions with which it disagrees, strongly suggest that Epic Sweden doesn’t intend to follow the principles,” Schiller said within the letter.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney is pictured. REUTERS
Epic has been amongst probably the most vocal critics of Apple’s handling of the App Store, where it has historically charged large firms commission fees of as much as 30% for in-app purchases.
In 2020, Apple blocked “Fortnite” from its App Store after Epic Games enabled a feature that allowed customers to pay them directly. A lawsuit filed by Epic Games resulted in a split verdict in 2021 that largely favored Apple.
Appeals by each firms sent the lawsuit all of the strategy to the US Supreme Court, but justices declined to listen to the case earlier this yr.
