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We don’t know when Fortnite will come back to Apple, but we do know that it won’t be anytime soon. The game was removed from the App Store in August epic games added a direct payment option to the game, violating Apple’s App Store guidelines.
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The Dispute
The Fortnite game was pulled from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in August 2020. The reason for this was because the game’s creator, Epic Games, violated the terms of service of both Apple and Google. This led to a legal dispute between the two companies.
Apple removes Fortnite from the App Store
Apple has removed Fortnite from the App Store after Epic Games introduced a direct payment system for in-game currency, circumventing Apple’s standard 30% cut.
Epic Games is now suing Apple, saying that the iPhone maker’s removal of Fortnite is “an intentional effort to cripple competing businesses.”
“Today, Epic Games took the unfortunate step of violating the App Store guidelines that are applied equally to every developer and designed to keep the store safe for our users,” an Apple spokesperson said in a statement. “As a result their Fortnite app has been removed from the store.”
Epic Games has been offering direct payments for in-game currency in Fortnite since Thursday, bypassing Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store. The move led to Apple and Google both removing the popular game from their respective stores.
“We are aware that some players are unable to access Fortnite on iOS,” an Epic Games spokesperson said in a statement. “We’re working closely with Apple to resolve the issue.”
Epic Games sues Apple
Epic Games, the company behind the popular game Fortnite, has filed a lawsuit against Apple after the iPhone maker removed the game from its App Store.
The dispute began when Epic released an update to Fortnite that allowed users to purchase in-game currency directly from Epic, bypassing Apple’s in-app purchasing system. Apple responded by removing Fortnite from the App Store, and Epic responded by filing a lawsuit.
In its lawsuit, Epic alleges that Apple’s actions are “the kind of monopolistic behavior that so often accompanies Apple’s control over key technology markets.” Epic is asking the court to order Apple to allow Fortnite back on the App Store and to “stop imposing unfair or anti-competitive restraints” on developers.
Apple has not yet responded to the lawsuit.
The Aftermath
On Thursday, August 13, 2020, Epic Games, the creator of the widely popular online game Fortnite, filed a lawsuit against Apple. This follows Apple’s removal of Fortnite from the App Store after Epic Games introduced a direct payment feature that bypassed Apple’s in-app purchase system.
Apple blocks Fortnite updates
Apple has blocked Fortnite updates and no longer allows the game to be played on its devices.
This decision was made after Fortnite introduced a new in-game payment system that bypassed Apple’s App Store. Apple takes a 30% cut of all in-app purchases made through its store, but the new system would have allowed Epic Games to keep all of the revenue.
Apple said that the move violated its App Store guidelines, which state that all in-app purchases must go through the App Store.
“We are very sorry that we cannot provide our users with the latest version of Fortnite, but we hope to be able to do so again soon,” said an Epic Games spokesperson.
The spokesperson also said that players who have already downloaded Fortnite on their Apple devices will still be able to play the game, but they will not be able to receive any updates.
Epic Games offers direct payment
In an ongoing battle between Apple and Epic Games, on Thursday Epic Games offered a direct payment option to customers on its website in an attempt to skirt around Apple’s in-app purchase system.
The move is the latest in a string of back-and-forths between the two companies, which began when Epic Games added a direct payment option to its popular video game Fortnite, bypassing Apple’s system and taking a 30% cut of all purchases made through the game. In response, Apple pulled Fortnite from its App Store, and Epic Games retaliated with a lawsuit.
A direct payment option is not available on the App Store, so by offering it on its website, Epic Games is essentially asking customers to break the rules set by Apple in order to play Fortnite. It’s unclear how many people will take Epic up on its offer, but the company seems confident that enough will that it’s worth the risk of angering Apple even further.
The move could also have major implications for other developers who are considering similar actions. If Epic Games is successful in circumventing Apple’s App Store rules, it could pave the way for other developers to do the same thing.
Apple retaliates
just a few hours after Fortnite was removed from the App Store, Apple issued a statement saying that the game was removed because it violated its guidelines. Specifically, Apple takes issue with the fact that Epic Games added its own in-app payment system to the game, bypassing Apple’s 30 percent cut.
“Today, Epic Games took the unfortunate step of violating the App Store guidelines that are applied equally to every developer and designed to keep the store safe for our users,” Apple said in a statement. “As a result their Fortnite app has been removed from the store.”
Epic Games responded to Apple’s statement with one of its own, saying that it introduced its own payment system “in order to reach more players.”
“We chose to follow this path in order to bring our vision of collaborative innovation to life,” Epic said. “In turn, Apple is depriving Epic’s customers of fortnite’s value benefits they have come to enjoy.”
The Future
Fortnite Chapter 2 – Season 4 has begun, and while the game is currently unavailable on the App Store, you can still access it on your devices if you have it installed. However, it’s unclear when Fortnite will return to the App Store. Here’s what we know about the future of the game.
The possibility of a settlement
It’s been nearly two weeks since Fortnite was removed from the App Store, and there’s no end in sight to the legal battle between Apple and Epic Games. But there’s a possibility that the two companies could reach a settlement before the case goes to trial.
Sources familiar with the matter tell The Verge that lawyers for both sides have been in talks to try to resolve the dispute, though it’s not clear what a potential settlement would look like. It’s also not clear how likely it is that the two companies will be able to reach an agreement; both sides appear to be dug in, and Epic has said it is prepared to take the case all the way to trial.
The next court hearing in the case is scheduled for September 28th, when a judge will consider Epic’s request for a preliminary injunction that would force Apple to allow Fortnite back on the App Store.
The possibility of Fortnite returning to the App Store
It’s been over two months since Fortnite was temporarily removed from the App Store, and there’s no indication that it will be returning any time soon. The game’s developers, Epic Games, have been locked in a legal battle with Apple since the removal, with both sides claiming that the other is being unfair.
While it’s impossible to know what will happen in the future, it seems unlikely that Fortnite will be returning to the App Store anytime soon. Epic Games has made it clear that they are willing to fight Apple on this issue, and it doesn’t appear that Apple is interested in cutting a deal. If anything, Apple seems to be digging in for a long battle.
Of course, this could all change if either side decides to compromise or if a judge orders Fortnite to be reinstated on the App Store. But for now, it looks like Fortnite fans who want to play on their iPhone or iPad will have find another way to do it.
