David BridgesEpic Games has officially submitted the popular battle royale game Fortnite to the US Apple App Store. If the game makes its return, it will mark the first time in nearly five years that this iconic shooter will be accessible on iOS devices. This significant development comes on the heels of a recent judicial ruling that mandates Apple to cease collecting fees for purchases made outside of its App Store.
In light of this ruling, Epic has joyfully announced the anticipated return of Fortnite, along with a series of transformative changes to its sales platform, which are specifically designed for developers and publishers. Notably, Epic has pledged not to impose any commission on publishers for the first $1,000,000 in revenue generated from any app each year, creating a more favorable environment for new and existing developers.
Furthermore, Epic has unveiled the creation of standalone webshops, which will provide an alternative avenue for developers to bypass Apple’s steep App Store fees. These shops will be powered by the Epic Games Store, presenting a platform for out-of-app purchases as a more cost-effective solution compared to traditional in-app purchases. Additionally, Epic has announced an increase in the rate of Epic Rewards when utilizing its proprietary payment system, thereby incentivizing developers to adopt this new approach.
Epic’s CEO, Tim Sweeney, has expressed that the company intends to make the game available on the App Store globally, contingent upon Apple extending the court’s ruling worldwide. The current stance of Apple remains uncertain, as the company has lodged an appeal against the ruling and filed an emergency motion, seeking a pause on any modifications to the operation and fee collection structure of the App Store.
In response to Apple’s recent actions, Epic has characterized this maneuver as a “last ditch effort to block competition and extract massive junk fees at the expense of consumers and developers.” Several companies, including Spotify, have already taken proactive steps by submitting updates that enable US customers to make payments outside of the App Store, reflecting a broader movement toward competition within the market.
Moreover, a coalition of developers has joined forces to file a class action lawsuit against Apple. This legal action claims that they have incurred significant financial losses due to Apple’s non-compliance with the initial court order mandating the cessation of fee collection for purchases made outside the App Store. This lawsuit highlights ongoing tensions and the urgency for reform in the app marketplace.
