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FortniteApple removed Fortnite from its App Store today. Epic Games is suing Apple back in response to blocking the game from over 1 billion devices.
Epic Games has filed legal papers in response to Apple, read more here: https://t.co/c4sgvxQUvb
— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) August 13, 2020
Fortnite Sues Apple for Removing Game
Soon after the Fortnite app saw a removal on the Apple App Store, Epic Games announced on Twitter that it filed legal paperwork in response.
But why did Apple remove Fortnite from the App Store in the first place? It’s because Epic Games grew tired of the enormous percent of profits that Apple, Google, and Android forces app developers to share. Earlier today, Epic Games input its own payment system on devices through a direct payment option update. This allows the company to circumvent the massive fees placed on them. It even resulted in today’s Fortnite Mega Drop, a discount on all V-Bucks purchases in the store.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney long since believed that changes are needed. Considering the number of sales the tech giants already make, he believes the cut that app developers send to Apple is far too high.
“It’s time for change,” Sweeney said to The Verge. “Apple, Google, and Android manufacturers make vast, vast profits from the sale of their devices and do not in any way justify the 30 percent cut.”
Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite
Fortnite responded in minutes with an announcement of a new animated short, Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite, on Party Royale island. Within an hour, Epic Games went live with the animation. This parody commercial pins Apple as a tyrant trying to brainwash and control everyone. Fortnite’s response even names Apple as the “App Store Monopoly”. The video ends with the start of a new movement, #FreeFortnite.
What’s truly impressive is how fast Epic Games responded to these claims. Although Fortnite is the most popular game in the world right now, the company announced, created, and published a near-minute long animation within just hours of the incident. Some fans believe Epic even expected the Fortnite ban on Apple’s App Store, which planned this movement around it.
Epic Games has defied the App Store Monopoly. In retaliation, Apple is blocking Fortnite from a billion devices.
Visit https://t.co/K3S07w5uEk and join the fight to stop 2020 from becoming "1984" https://t.co/tpsiCW4gqK
— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) August 13, 2020
Fortnite is still playable for users who already downloaded the app on iOS but is unavailable for new downloads. At this point, Google and Android have yet to issue a response or remove the game from Play Store. Given that a quick lawsuit may hit Apple because of the Fortnite ban, the two companies are probably weighing their options. This is a new situation in the esports and gaming industries so fans are excited to see what the law decides.
Update: Google has removed Fortnite too.
Written by Justin Amin
[…] Apple’s services. On August 13, 2020, Apple pulled the plug on Fortnite mobile in response to an alleged violation of its terms of service by Epic Games, creating a long legal […]