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Wednesday, creator of Fortnite epic gamesCEO Tim Sweeney announced that Apple rejected his request for a developer account needed to launch its app store in Europe.
Sweeney claims this move is retaliation against Apple, stemming from Epic’s antitrust lobbying efforts and its ongoing lawsuit against Apple.
It cited emails from Phil Schiller, Apple’s App Store chief Phil Schiller, and Apple’s legal team.
Sweeney expressed his disapproval of Apple’s actions, stating: “The way Apple is killing Epic here as an App Store competitor is super egregious. This is the medieval feudal lord, mounting the skulls of his former enemies on the walls of his castles.”
This is the first known case of Apple denying entry to a competing app store in Europe.
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The friction between Apple and Epic Games dates back to 2020
The lawsuit questioned whether Fortnite could circumvent Apple’s App Store guidelines and avoid the standard 30% commission on game sales. Although Epic lost the case, the lawsuit changed Apple’s policies under California law.
This ongoing dispute underscores potential regulatory challenges to Apple’s App Store revenue. An Apple spokesperson defended the company’s decision to terminate the account, citing Epic’s ongoing legal actions against Apple.
“Epic’s blatant failure to comply with its contractual obligations to Apple led the courts to determine that Apple has the right to terminate ‘any or all of Epic Games’ subsidiaries, affiliates, and/or other wholly-owned entities under the control of Epic. Games at any time and at Apple’s sole discretion. “In light of Epic’s past and current behavior, Apple decided to exercise that right,” the spokesperson quoted.
In response to the Digital Markets Act (a new European law that forces big tech companies to open their platforms to competition), Apple has begun to comply. This law requires Apple to allow third-party app stores in Europe, challenging the iPhone’s App Store monopoly. Apple has expressed its opposition to the law, citing concerns about user safety.
Companies such as Spotify also argue that Apple’s measures do not comply with the spirit of EU law, pointing to the addition of a 50 euro cent fee for downloads as an example.
Sweeney revealed that Epic had plans to launch a new app store in Europe. The studio applied for a developer account in Sweden, but faced rejection from Apple.
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Despite the public actions and rhetoric, Schiller sent an email to Sweeney requesting written assurances of Epic’s good faith and commitment to its agreements.
Sweeney criticized Apple’s vague demands, saying, “This is an open invitation for Apple to tell us exactly what they want us to commit to and how they want us to commit so as not to box us in as competitors.”
He also suggested that Apple’s expectations included a written declaration of loyalty and a cessation of public discourse, stating: “Based on my interactions with Apple, they want two things. “They want some kind of essay expressing their loyalty to Apple, a creative writing project, and they want us to shut up.”