Apple, Google Take Down Fortnite From Their App Stores, Fortnite Fights Back
The big tech giants, Apple and Google have removed the Epics Game’s battle royale game Fortnite from their respective app stores after the developer introduced its direct payment feature. The users will not be able to download the game from the Apple app store and Google Playstore, However Android users can still download it using Epic’s own app launcher. The users who already have installed the game will face no effect as of now.
What Exactly Happened?
Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite game, announced the new direct payment feature in Fortnite on iOS and Android to get rid of app store fees. The direct payment feature bypasses the 30% fees of app stores.
In response, Apple removed Fortnite from its app store, citing the policy violation reasons. Following the same path, Google also removed the game from its play store citing the same reason.
Following the removal, Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Apple and released a protest video on YouTube that mocks Apples’ 1987 iconic Ad and urged gaming fans to supports its fight against Apple. When Google removed the game from its Playstore, Epic game followed the same path and filed a lawsuit against Google as well.
Epic’s lawsuit against Google reads, “Epic does not seek monetary compensation from this Court for the injuries it has suffered. Epic likewise does not seek a side deal or favorable treatment from Google for itself. Instead, Epic seeks injunctive relief that would deliver Google’s broken promise: an open, competitive Android ecosystem for all users and industry participants. Such injunctive relief is sorely needed.”
Epic Games also claimed that Google forced OnePlus to decimate a deal that was about special Fortnite launcher preinstalled on OnePlus phones. It also claimed that Google also demanded LG to ditch any plans about the same.
For its users, Epic Games in its FAQ section clarified that the “Game would continue to function as normal up until the release of Chapter 2 - Season 4. Following that, players accessing Fortnite will still be able to play the 13.40 version of Fortnite, but will not be able to access any new content or the new Battle Pass,”.
The Number Game
Both the Apple App Store and the Google Play store charges 30% of the amount in the in-app purchases. To make an escape gate, Epic Games introduced an in-app direct payment feature. This feature allows users to make payments for their purchases through The App’s internal payment option and also offering a 20% discount to the users. However, the developer also retained the conventional app store payment method.
According to the new offer introduced by Epic Games, One can buy 1000 V-Bucks at $7.99 instead of a regular $9.99 price. The company said that this step has been taken so that our By offering an alternate payment system, we’re not only offering players more choice, but we’re able to pass along the savings to players.
Addressing the security in the direct payment feature, the company in FAQ stated, “In operating Fortnite on open platforms and operating the Epic Games Store, Epic has processed over $1,600,000,000 of direct payments successfully, and uses industry-trusted encryption and security measures to protect customer transactions”.
