The dispute between Apple and Fortnite manufacturer Epic Games continues. The iPhone company has announced that it will not allow the popular gaming app to return to the App Store for the time being.
Just a few days ago, US Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers put her foot down in the dispute between Apple and Epic Games at the US Federal Court in Oakland.
It was the first ruling in the dispute between the two tech rivals, which has been going on for months.
The point of contention
But how did the two companies get into this predicament in the first place? The reason was a push by Epic Games.
The game developer wanted to enable its Fortnite user:ins to buy in-app purchases outside of the Apple system. In this way, Epic wanted to circumvent Apple’s fees.
When Apple did not agree to the plan, Epic Games secretly changed the code in the Fortnite app. This allowed users:inside to buy directly from Epic and the game maker bypassed Apple’s commission.
Apple then unceremoniously kicked Fortnite out of the App Store.
The Apple vs. Epic Games verdict in detail
US Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has now ruled that Apple must open up its payment system in the App Store. This should make it possible for app developers to integrate other payment methods in their apps.
Until now, in-app purchases could only be made via Apple’s own Apple Pay. In this case, 30 percent of the revenue flows to the iPhone company. Too much, as Epic founder Tim Sweeney has been complaining since 2015.
The dispute now seemed to come to an end with the decision of Judge Rogers. But now the disputants are entering the ring again.
The dispute continues
Apple has now announced that it will not reinstate the game maker’s Fortnite app in the App Store until all legal disputes between the two companies have been settled.
Apple’s rejection comes from a letter published by Epic CEO Tim Sweeney.
Among other things, Apple accuses the game developer of “duplicitous” behavior in this letter. Because while Epic has claimed in the past to want to adhere to all the rules for developers in the App Store in the future.
Apple’s lawyers, on the other hand, wrote in the letter that Epic had indicated after the court ruling that it did not want to give up its own purchase system in the Fortnite app.
The lawyers now informed Epic Games that they do not want to consider further return requests from Epic Games until the judge’s ruling is final and can no longer be appealed. According to Sweeney, that could take at least another five years.
