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For instance, 1,000 V-bucks, which is roughly equivalent to $10 in-game Fortnite currency, now costs just $7.99 if you use Epic direct payment instead of the standard Apple payment processing.
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How Fortnite’s epic battle with Apple could reshape the antitrust fightĮpic’s approach seems designed to provoke Apple (and to a much lesser extent Google) into a response, as the Fortnite studio explicitly laid out in its new iOS update how using Epic’s in-app payment system would result in cheaper prices. However, we welcome the opportunity to continue our discussions with Epic and bring Fortnite back to Google Play.” “While Fortnite remains available on Android, we can no longer make it available on Play because it violates our policies. For game developers who choose to use the Play Store, we have consistent policies that are fair to developers and keep the store safe for users,” a Google spokesperson tells The Verge.
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“The open Android ecosystem lets developers distribute apps through multiple app stores. Android users, however, can still download Fortnite using Epic’s own app launcher, which it distributes independently through any mobile web browser. We will make every effort to work with Epic to resolve these violations so they can return Fortnite to the App Store.Įpic implemented its own payment system in the Android version of Fortnite as well, leading Google to take similar action and remove the game from the Play Store. The fact that their business interests now lead them to push for a special arrangement does not change the fact that these guidelines create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users. Epic agreed to the App Store terms and guidelines freely and we’re glad they’ve built such a successful business on the App Store. Epic enabled a feature in its app which was not reviewed or approved by Apple, and they 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.Įpic has had apps on the App Store for a decade, and have benefited from the App Store ecosystem - including its tools, testing, and distribution that Apple provides to all developers.
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As a result their Fortnite app has been removed from the store. Today, 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.
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Apple said in a statement to The Verge that it plans to work with Epic to “resolve these violations” but that it has no intention to create a “special arrangement” for the company.
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