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Fortnite’s removal from Apple and Google Store led Epic Games in Filing a Lawsuit.
Epic Games, a video game developer, developed and innovated Fortnite, an online video game that aroused feud. On Thursday, August 13, Epic Games introduced its own direct, in-app payment system for Fortnite.
Fortnite’s new mode is called the Fortnite Mega Drop, which implemented fixed discounts of up to 20% on V-bucks, Fortnite's in-game currency.
Both Apple's App Store and Google Play Store get a 30% fee from in-game purchases like Fortnite. The innovation of payment gives players two options, either processing their in-app purchases through Apple (on iOS) and Google (on Android) paying a few dollars more or paying a lower price directly to Epic. The first option allows Apple and Google Store to take their share while the latter is more accessible since the player can buy cheaper V-bucks.
Unfortunately, Epic Games has violated the App Store guidelines by establishing a direct payment that avoids Apple’s fee. In a statement, Apple enunciated, "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. As a result, the Fortnite app was removed from the store.”
Subsequently, Google likewise removed Fortnite from the Google Play Store. In a statement to The Verge, a Google spokesperson said, “We can no longer make Fortnite available on Play because it violates our policies. However, we welcome the opportunity to continue our discussions with Epic and bring Fortnite back to Google Play."
Epic Games already expected Apple's response to its actions. Aside from the circulation of the #FreeFortnite and the Nineteen Eighty-Four parody video, Epic Games also launched a lawsuit against Apple due to its unfair and anti-competitive actions unlawful monopoly in two distinct, multibillion-dollar markets: the iOS App Distribution Market and the iOS In-App Payment Processing Market. A lawsuit against Google followed it for similar reasons.
Epic Games expressed its thoughts on the behavior of mobile giants like Apple through its updated Mega Drop FAQ, stating, "Epic’s position is that all mobile developers and consumers have the right to choose alternate payment providers that charge less. We expect Apple to unblock Fortnite." Therefore, if we talk about business, it usually has issues, especially nowadays that technology is booming, and most teenagers are into gadgets playing online games.
Related Links:
Why Did Fortnite Get Banned From The App Store And Google Play?
Fortnite Removed From App Store, Epic Games Suing Apple | Save State
