Apple has removed Fortnite from the App Store
Clash of the titans
Fortnite has now been removed for download from Google Play.
UpdateEpic has now released a video mocking Apple within Fortnite.
UpdateThere’s the full #FreeFortnite video pic.twitter.com/hgK4ySNghn — Jordan Oloman (@JordanOloman) August 13, 2020
Epic has now filed legal papers in response to Apple removing Fortnite from the App Store. The fact that Epic has announced this via the official Fortnite Twitter account only reinforces that it's aiming to drag players into its fight against Apple.
Original storyEpic Games has filed legal papers in response to Apple, read more here: https://t.co/c4sgvxQUvb — Fortnite (@FortniteGame) August 13, 2020
Earlier today, Epic Games began selling IAPs within Fortnite at a discounted price through a direct payment option on mobile. You could still buy your IAPs in-game via Google Play or the App Store, though you would pay the full $9.99 as opposed to $7.99 for sending that money straight to Epic.
Why was this done? Well, because Google and Apple take a whopping 30% cut of every IAP bought through their payment channels. Now, however, Apple has made the decision to remove Fortnite altogether from the App Store as this new direct payment option violates the store's guidelines.
In a statement to The Verge, Apple made it clear that it aims to work with Epic to "resolve these violations" so that Fortnite can return to the App Store. This is only the latest case of Epic attempting to break Google and Apple's stranglehold, with Fortnite for Android having initially sidestepped a Google Play launch. That decision was ultimately reversed earlier this year.
What's especially interesting about all of this is how Epic has framed its direct payment option as a pro-consumer move. By offering a heavy discount to those who use this method and then waiting for Apple or Google to snatch it away, Epic has likely aligned consumers to its cause. After all, I don't want to have to pay a couple quid more just to line Apple or Google's pockets when Epic is offering a compelling alternative.
Fortnite is still available for download from over on Google Play at the time of writing.
Searching for the very best multiplayer games around? Here are 25 of our favourites for iPhone & iPad