Epic Games: Dispute With Apple Enters Next Round

Epic Games versus Apple. Haven’t we seen this before? Of course we do: back in 2020, the two warring parties fought over making the hit game Fortnite available for iOS. in 2021, Epic Games was then awarded justice in a US court. As part of the implementation of the Digital Market Act in March 2024, the Epic Games Store and Fortnite were to find their way onto the iPhone. But that won’t happen for now.

Apple blocks Epic Games developer account

Epic Games versus Apple: this dispute, which has been going on for several years, was supposed to be settled. The implementation of the Digital Market Act on March 7, 2024 is intended to pave the way for alternative app stores (and payment options) on iOS.

Apple has already released the corresponding update with iOS 17.4, while Epic Games had already announced that it would finally bring its own store, including Fortnite, back to Apple devices. However, Apple has now once again put a stop to this.

At least Epic Games has now revealed this in its own blog post, according to which Apple has unceremoniously blocked Epic’s developer account. The company even discloses the email correspondence with a responsible person at Apple.

For Epic, this is a bitter blow: “This is a serious violation of the DMA [Digital Markets Act] and shows that Apple has no intention of allowing real competition on iOS devices, ” says the Fortnite publisher.

By blocking the developer account, Apple is showing other developers what it means to try to compete with Apple or react critically to its unfair practices, Epic Games continues. Whether and when the Epic Games Store and Fortnite will find their way onto iOS is once again completely up in the air.

Apple passes the buck to Epic Games

Everything actually went according to plan for Epic Games. The new iOS developer account was approved in February 2024, which Epic CEO Tim Sweeney happily announced via Twitter/X. There was correspondence between the developer and Apple in the course of several emails between mid-February and early March 2024 – but the Cupertino-based company declined to discuss the matter in person.

The emails, especially from the responsible App Store manager Phil Schiller, which are listed in Epic Games’ blog post, read like the defiant answers of a kindergarten child:

“In the past, Epic has made agreements with Apple and then broken them, ” reads an email from Schiller dated February 23, 2024. “Your harsh criticism of our plan to implement the terms of the DMA, as well as Epic’s past practices of intentionally violating contract terms with which the company disagrees, strongly suggests that Epic Sweden does not intend to play by the rules, ” it continues.

Apple is also demanding that Epic Games provide a written assurance that it will abide by the rules in the future. In addition, Epic Sweden should “please reveal why we should trust the team this time.”

Violation of DMA: EU already alerted

Epic Games sees Apple’s actions as a gross violation of Article 6(4) of the Digital Market Act. The fact that Apple can block competitors at its own discretion is not compatible with the DMA.

However, the EU has already been informed and is monitoring the incident. Margrethe Vestager, the EU Commissioner responsible, fears that Apple is not treating third-party app stores fairly despite the requirements of the DMA, as reported in a Bloomberg article.