Apple and other tech giants face another legal fight — this time from the European Commission, which is now investigating the iPhone maker's alleged non-compliance with EU rules.
06.03.2024 - 19:09 / eurogamer.net / Tim Sweeney / Ios
Epic's plans to launch a version of its Epic Games Store on iOS in the EU have stalled after Apple terminated its developer account, calling the company «verifiably untrustworthy» — and the much-trumpeted return of Fortnite to iOS has been impacted too.
Epic announced it would be launching an iOS version of its store in Europe back in February, following Apple's confirmation it would be complying with the EU's Digital Markets Act requiring it to allow sideloading and alternate marketplaces on its devices. While Epic boss Tim Sweeney immediately launched a social media tirade in response to the announcement — calling Apple's planned implementation of the EU's rules «hot garbage» — Epic soon confirmed it had officially received an Apple Developer Account and would be launching a version of its Epic Games Store, operated by Epic Games Sweden, sometime this year.
Now, however, Epic claims Apple has terminated its Epic Games Sweden AB developer account, preventing it from developing an iOS store — a move it says is «a serious violation of the DMA and shows Apple has no intention of allowing true competition on iOS devices.»
Newscast: Will Pokémon Legends: ZA be a Switch 2 launch title? Newscast: Will Pokémon Legends: Z-A be a Switch 2 launch title?In correspondence between Apple and Epic shared as part of today's announcement, Apple's Phil Schiller can be seen reaching out to Tim Sweeney for written assurances Epic is «acting in good faith» before approving its developer account, with Schiller drawing attention to Sweeney's «colourful» recent social media comments and noting, «In the past, Epic has entered into agreements with Apple and then broken them.» Epic, of course, infamously chose to circumvent Apple's contractually mandated App Store fees back in 2020 by adding the abililty to make direct in-game payments in Fortnite — a move that resulted in Fortnite being booted from the App Store and a lengthy legal tussle between the two companies.
In response to Schiller, Sweeney wrote, «Epic and its subsidiaries are acting in good faith and will comply with all current and future agreements with Apple.» However, a follow-up letter from Apple's legal team calls Sweeney's response «wholly insufficient and not credible», adding, «History shows...that Epic is verifiably untrustworthy».
It also calls Sweeney's response «minimal» and «curt», insisting his assurances were «Ssiftly undercut by a litany of public attcks on Apple's policies, compliance plans, and business model», adding, «A recent submission in the Australian litigation suggestions that Epic Games Sweden AB is part of a global effort to undermine or evade Apple's rules». As such, Epic Games Sweden's Developer Program membership is terminated
Apple and other tech giants face another legal fight — this time from the European Commission, which is now investigating the iPhone maker's alleged non-compliance with EU rules.
Apple is facing another antitrust lawsuit — this time from the US government.
The Department of Justice and 17 state attorneys general filed a massive lawsuit against Apple on Thursday morning, accusing the company of monopolistic smartphone practices. Meanwhile, Fortnite maker Epic Games has been accusing Apple’s iOS App Store of antitrust violations for years in an ongoing, arduous legal battle.
Epic Games Inc., the developer behind the popular Fortnite franchise, announced plans for a mobile online store on the iOS and Android platforms.
Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile is being released worldwide today.
Epic Games has announced that the Epic Games Store is coming to iOS and Android devices later this year. The Epic Games Store's mobile expansion will allow the storefront to function across all major, non-console platforms.
Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox
Under pressure from European regulators, Apple took a step back in its feud with Epic Games on Friday, clearing the way for Epic to put its own game store on iPhones and iPads in Europe.
Under pressure from European regulators, Apple took a step back in its feud with Epic Games on Friday, clearing the way for Epic Games to put its own game store on iPhones and iPads in Europe. Earlier this week, Apple had taken steps to block Epic from starting up a store and bringing back the popular game Fortnite, which Apple removed from its App Store in 2020 after Epic broke the iPhone maker's in-app payment rules in protest.
Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox
Apple escalated its feud with Epic Games on Wednesday, blocking the Fortnite video-game maker from launching its own online marketplace on iPhones and iPads in Europe.
Epic Games, the studio behind Fortnite, has announced that Apple terminated its developer account, blocking the company from creating and supporting the Epic Games Store on iOS. For those unfamiliar, Epic Games recently revealed that Apple had approved its Sweden AB developer account, which it had planned to use as a way to bring Fortnite to iOS devices in Europe. However, Apple has terminated this account, with Epic Games criticizing the decision publicly.