In a return to the Epic Games vs Apple drama from last year, the developer of Fortnite is now asking Apple to let it re-release Fortnite on iOS – at least in Korea [via The Verge].
It’s been over a year now since Fortnite was ripped from the iOS store in a dispute between Epic Games and Apple. The titan video game publisher accused the Californian tech company of holding a monopoly over digital distribution on the Apple platform. The result was a relatively cringey ‘#FreeFortnite’ campaign that compared the situation to George Orwell’s 1984.
Twelve months down the line, Epic Games is now asking Apple to consider letting Fortnite back onto iOS devices. The decision is instigated by a new law that’s set to come into effect in South Korea. This new law is intended to force the hands of Apple and Google, allowing for alternative payment methods alongside Apple and Google’s own.
As it currently stands, the iOS App Store regulations only allow developers to use Apple’s payment processing systems. This allows Apple to take a percentage cut of all payments made via the iOS App Store. Epic violated these rules when they implemented their own payment systems to circumvent Apples, pricing Fortnite’s V-Bucks at a lower price in a guise to ‘give back’ the savings to players. It’s the whole crux of why Epic and Apple fell out in the first place.
Apple remains reluctant
With the new bill on the way, Epic is hedging its bets with Apple to get Fortnite reinstated. ‘Epic has asked Apple to restore our Fortnite developer account,’ a tweet from the official Fortnite account reads. ‘Epic intends to re-release Fortnite on iOS in Korea offering both Epic payment and Apple payment side-by-side in compliance with the new Korean law.’
Sadly for Epic, Apple is playing hardball with its decision to remove Fortnite from the App Store. It certainly doesn’t look like it will change its mind. In a statement written to The Verge, Apple said: ‘As we’ve said all along, we would welcome Epic’s return to the App Store if they agree to play by the same rules as everyone else,’ the company says. ‘Epic has admitted to breach of contract and as of now, there’s no legitimate basis for the reinstatement of their developer account.’ It certainly sounds like there’s no love lost between the two.
Fortnite is still large in its popularity, though has dropped significantly from the top spot. It’s currently sitting as the eighth most watching game on Twitch, right behind hits like Valorant and Apex Legends. Interestingly, it’s a smidgeon ahead of Call of Duty: Warzone, which sits in ninth place.
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[Featured Image Credit: Apple / Epic Games]