Apple Removes Fortnite From iOS App Store; Epic Games Files Lawsuit
Apple has removed Epic Games’ Fortnite from its iOS App Store after an update earlier today added a direct in-app payment system.
The direct payment option in the mobile versions of the game offered a 20{3851c0879557ceb6c70cddb6630c7df9a9750acfd53fffec21979e603af26faa} price drop of its V-Bucks premium currency, while paying through the Apple and Google’s App Stores remained the same price as before. Epic Games said the reason was over the 30{3851c0879557ceb6c70cddb6630c7df9a9750acfd53fffec21979e603af26faa} fee that Apple and Google charges for in-app purchases.
Apple then removed Fortnite from the iOS App Store over violating in-app purchasing guidelines in a statement to The Verge:
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. As a result their Fortnite app has been removed from the 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.
Epic 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. 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. 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. We will make every effort to work with Epic to resolve these violations so they can return Fortnite to the App Store.
Players who have Fortnite already installed can still access the game, and those who downloaded it in the past can access it through their download history, according to The Washington Post’s Gene Park.
Epic Games responded by filing a lawsuit against Apple and publishing the legal papers through the official Fortnite Twitter account. The company is also releasing a short movie titled “Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite” at 4 p.m. ET through its Party Royale in-game playlist, which shows similarities to Apple’s own “1984” Super Bowl commercial.
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