“We see this as the beginning of the end of the Apple Tax worldwide” – Fortnite returns to the App Store globally as Epic prepares for “the final battle”
“This is a critical moment.”
Fortnite has returned to Apple’s App Store around the world (*excluding Australia) as Epic Games proclaims “the beginning of the end of the Apple Tax worldwide”.
The feud between Apple and Epic ignited in 2020, when Epic added an in-game payment option to Fortnite – one of the world’s largest games – in order to circumvent Apple and Google’s 30 percent fee. Apple pulled Fortnite from the App Store as a result. However, last year Apple suffered a significant defeat in court related to this that paved the way for Fortnite’s return, and it did so, in the US and Europe, only a few weeks later.
Now, it’s back everywhere. “Fortnite is back on the Apple App Store as we head into the final battle of Epic v Apple in court,” Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney wrote on X, sharing a blog post about the matter. “For years, Apple has fragmented iOS features and fees by territory, taking regulatory negotiating positions in secret, and intentionally delaying the pursuit of justice.
“Apple has now told the Supreme Court, ‘Regulators around the world are watching this case to determine what commission rate Apple may charge on covered purchases in huge markets outside the United States.’ So we see this as the beginning of the end of the Apple Tax worldwide.
“This is a critical moment in the battle against the App Store empire to win freedom for all developers and consumers, and we’ll continue the fight in every jurisdiction worldwide until competition is restored to digital stores and payment markets everywhere.”
The blog post echoes what Sweeney wrote, adding that “we are confident that once Apple is forced to show its costs, governments around the world will not allow Apple junk fees to stand”, and that Epic will continue to challenge them where it finds them. “Time and time again Apple has evaded the laws with scare screens, fees and onerous requirements,” Epic wrote. “It’s time for regulators to truly enforce the laws so developers and consumers around the world can benefit from an open and fair mobile app ecosystem.”
*Regarding Australia, Epic clarified that while it has won a court case against Apple there, Apple continues to enforce its “unlawful” terms. Epic is apparently seeking to bring this “unlawful conduct” to an end. “Epic can’t return under an illegal payment arrangement with Apple, so unless Apple agrees to adopt lawful payment terms in the interim, we must wait for a Court decision,” Epic wrote.
Fortnite returned to the Google Play store in March, incidentally.
Fortnite has returned to Apple’s App Store around the world (*excluding Australia) as Epic Games proclaims “the beginning of the end of the Apple Tax worldwide”.
The feud between Apple and Epic ignited in 2020, when Epic added an in-game payment option to Fortnite – one of the world’s largest games – in order to circumvent Apple and Google’s 30 percent fee. Apple pulled Fortnite from the App Store as a result. However, last year Apple suffered a significant defeat in court related to this that paved the way for Fortnite’s return, and it did so, in the US and Europe, only a few weeks later.
Now, it’s back everywhere. “Fortnite is back on the Apple App Store as we head into the final battle of Epic v Apple in court,” Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney wrote on X, sharing a blog post about the matter. “For years, Apple has fragmented iOS features and fees by territory, taking regulatory negotiating positions in secret, and intentionally delaying the pursuit of justice.
“Apple has now told the Supreme Court, ‘Regulators around the world are watching this case to determine what commission rate Apple may charge on covered purchases in huge markets outside the United States.’ So we see this as the beginning of the end of the Apple Tax worldwide.
“This is a critical moment in the battle against the App Store empire to win freedom for all developers and consumers, and we’ll continue the fight in every jurisdiction worldwide until competition is restored to digital stores and payment markets everywhere.”
The blog post echoes what Sweeney wrote, adding that “we are confident that once Apple is forced to show its costs, governments around the world will not allow Apple junk fees to stand”, and that Epic will continue to challenge them where it finds them. “Time and time again Apple has evaded the laws with scare screens, fees and onerous requirements,” Epic wrote. “It’s time for regulators to truly enforce the laws so developers and consumers around the world can benefit from an open and fair mobile app ecosystem.”
*Regarding Australia, Epic clarified that while it has won a court case against Apple there, Apple continues to enforce its “unlawful” terms. Epic is apparently seeking to bring this “unlawful conduct” to an end. “Epic can’t return under an illegal payment arrangement with Apple, so unless Apple agrees to adopt lawful payment terms in the interim, we must wait for a Court decision,” Epic wrote.
Fortnite returned to the Google Play store in March, incidentally.
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