Fortnite

Battle Royale

Apple’s Epic Battle Royale with Fortnite

September 14, 2021

Taking 30% isn’t unusual in retail and that’s what Apple’s App Store — a no frills, low overhead direct-to-everyone operation that takes almost 1/3 ofthe price as if they’re the anchor franchise at the mall. Actually, Apple is more than the anchor franchise — they are the only way download most apps to most iOS devices in an easily and happily. That’s why they can take 30%, because they can.

Epic Games, Fortnite’s publisher, executed an end-run and told users to make in-game purchases directly with Epic, cutting Apple out of their hefty commission. Apple responded by booting Fortnite out of the store. Fortnite responded by suing Apple for monopolizing the iOS app marketplace.

Fortnite is still out of the store, even though a ruling was made by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers on Friday, September 10, 2021. Both sides won and both sides lost. Apple was not deemed to be a monopoly, so oops, Epic, you screwed up and must pay something. But also, it’s actually OK to steer users toward other payment options, which is what Epic is being punished for (because it was then?) — from now on it’s OK. That’s a bigger win for Epic than a one-time wrist slap payment. [tbn]