Epic Games has confirmed it’s suing both Google and Apple over the mobile version of Fortnite, following it being blocked from both companies’ app stores.
The bizarre thing here is that Epic is actually using Fortnite to build support for its cause from its millions of players. In-game screens are displaying a parody of George Orwell’s dystopian story, Nineteen-Eighty-Four, with Epic claiming that Apple and Google blocking Fortnite from their app stores is reminiscent of the Big Brother mentality of the well-known book.
The campaign from Epic is also taking hold across social media, thanks to the company’s new hashtag “#FreeFortnite.”
So what’s actually happening here? Well, both Google and Apple take financial cuts from games placed on their storefronts, meaning that a percentage of Fortnite’s presumably hefty payload has been going to them, as opposed to the developer.
To put a stop to this, Epic introduced direct payment options within its mobile game and passed a 20 percent saving onto its users. Both companies retaliated against the move, blocking Fortnite from their mobile app stores.
Following the move, Epic launched its #FreeFortnite campaign with what’s essentially a trailer for their upcoming legal battle. Epic says in the video: “Epic Games has defied the App Store Monopoly. In retaliation, Apple is blocking Fortnite from a billion devices. Join the fight to stop 2020 from becoming ‘1984.’”
Google has, of course, now also blocked the game.
According to Gamespot, the official documents from the legal action against Google open with the following: “[Google] is using its size to do evil upon competitors, innovators, customers, and users in a slew of markets it has grown to monopolize.” Yikes.
Many people are praising Epic for the move, which is tentatively hoped to also help smaller developers down the line. If developers don’t have to give a cut of their money to storefronts like Google and Apple’s, it could help to increase their funds.
It’s not clear what’s going to happen with the legal battle as of yet, but definitely keep your eyes on Epic for this one!
Featured Image Credit: Epic Games