Epic Games has taken Apple’s App Store rules to the European Union where it has complained to unreliable regulators in the bloc. The creator of the popular online game Fortnite said in a blog post today that it is expanding its fight by calling it a “digital platform practice” for developers and consumers, the block is already looking at competition concerns associated with the Apple App Store (and its payment service, Apple Pay). The EU launched a formal investigation into some of Apple’s practices last year.
Regional lawmakers have also recently planned to expand platform controls to enforce specific strictures on ‘gatekeeper’ platforms in order to ensure third-party fairness and accountability. In addition, the issue of platform power is of course now under scrutiny by regulators and lawmakers around the world. “Complaints filed with the Director-General of the European Commission for Competition have complained that anti-competition resistance has been consistently designed with caution,” he said.
Not only has Apple suffered, but also it has eliminated full competition in app distribution and delivery processes, “Epic writers:”Apple is using control of the iOS ecosystem to its advantage to prevent competitors and its conduct from abusing and violating EU competition law.”
It does not seek damages against Apple, but wants EU competing authorities to impose redress against what it describes as an “exclusive channel” for iPhone makers.
“Consumers have the right to install applications from the source of their choice and developers have the right to compete in a fair market,” said Tim Sweeney, founder and CEO of Epic Games, in a statement. We will not stand idly by and allow Apple to dominate the platform to control what level the digital playing field should be. This is bad for consumers, who are paying inflated prices due to the lack of complete competition between store and application delivery processing. In addition, that’s bad for developers, whose very livelihoods often depend on Apple’s full consideration of who will be allowed on the iOS platform and under what conditions.”
Apple launched a U.S. lawsuit against Apple last August after it banned Fortnite from the Apple App Store. The technology giant took the step after Apple tried to bypass Apple’s app purchase framework and added its own payment system to Fortnite to allow users to purchase in-game coins directly in direct violation of Apple’s rules took.
In addition to the fortnightly ban, Apple said it would go further and revoke access to Epic’s developer account and its unrealistic engine developer tools – a move that would affect third-party applications that rely on Epic’s engine. However, it was an obstacle to go so far. A U.S. judge quickly denied the Epic’s motion to force Apple to block the game, but ordered Cupertino not to withhold the Epic’s ability to supply and distribute the IP’s unrealistic engine – adopting an apple-earth approach to try to stop Apple’s war limitations.
Epic has since filed lawsuits against Apple in Australia and the United Kingdom. It is now also appealing to EU regulators. The EU’s incredible division, meanwhile, launched an official investigation into Apple last summer – Europe-based music streaming service Spotify made the same complaint about the ‘banned’ app store rules and 30% cut Cupertino took the iOS to provide the app.
The commission said at the time that anonymous e-book / audiobook distributors had also complained about the impact of the App Store rules on the competition. It confirmed today that it has received complaints against Apple through Apple Games. A representative for the commission told us, “We will evaluate it based on our standard approach.
Epic’s argument is that Apple is denying Four-Knight users in iOS a choice between Apple Payments and Epic’s direct payments – the claim savers will be handed over directly to buyers (although Epic must make money if it can open a channel that cuts Apple’s cut Exceeds) (application payment). Epic has also tried to pressure Apple to run the Epic Games Store on iOS – a move that Apple has denied, citing “strict standards for security, privacy and content” under the store rules. Curiosity, the equivalent ‘quality’, does not always live up to the reality of what it allows to manage in its app store).
Back in 2019, Apple also launched its own gaming distribution service, Apple Arcade – authentic-play content that provides access to new and exclusive games across Apple’s device ecosystem. The move probably led to the decision to wreak havoc on Apple by breaking the Vass-a-Vis Epic game behind the straw camel. (Its blog post mentions Apple Arcade and notes that Apple itself forbids competitors to do the same).
It is worth noting that Epic has squared up with Google, which similarly takes a toll on the number of Android apps distributed through its Play Store – and it removed the fortnightly from the Play Store last year.
Google’s Android platform, however, allows sideloading of third-party apps and alternative app stores, arguably making it even harder to create an incredible case stick against the strict restrictions imposed by Apple. At the same time, though, Android dominates the smartphone market share – on the other hand, Apple’s cut in the global market is less than a fifth.
