Epic Games, the publisher of Fortnite, has been denouncing for several weeks the commission that Apple takes on consumer purchases via the App Store.
Epic Games, which publishes the game Fortnite, deems “tyrannical” the commission of 30% that Apple collects on the revenues generated by the companies which pass through the App Store (archives).
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Epic Games, the publisher of Fortnite, can no longer design apps for users of Apple devices. The electronics and tech giant closed its account on Friday, after already banning the app from the survival shooter.
The two companies have been clashing for two weeks in the courts and in the press over the commission that Apple levies on consumer purchases via the App Store, its essential platform for downloading applications on the brand’s devices. .
On Monday, a California judge ruled that Apple could not exclude Epic Games from its developer program, but ruled in favor of removing the video game from the App Store. The publisher “seems to have put himself in this difficult situation,” said the magistrate, since he broke the terms of the contract with the electronics and technology giant.
Tyrannical Commission
In accordance with the judge’s ruling, Apple has not cut off Epic Games’ access to a program necessary to run its Unreal Engine video creation platform, used by various clients of the publisher, mainly studios. .
At the heart of the battle: Epic Games deems “tyrannical” the 30% commission that Apple collects on the revenue generated by companies that use the App Store to distribute their applications to consumers on iPhones and tablets. The publisher recently attempted to bypass iOS’s payment system (the operating software) in Fortnite updates, but Apple immediately removed the hugely popular game from the App Store. Epic Games has filed a complaint against Apple for abuse of dominance.
Apple regularly defends itself against any abuse by explaining that the commissions, of an equivalent level on other equivalent stores, are used to protect the applications and their users from hackers and scams.
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