Google follows Apple's lead, boots Fortnite from Play Store [u: sued]
Google on Thursday followed Apple's lead to pull Fortnite from the Play Store, a decision made after developer Epic Games updated the title to skirt app store fees with the implementation of direct in-app payments.
Epic's update, which was pushed out to both iOS and Android versions of Fortnite, integrated methods for users to bypass App Store and Play Store in-app payment mechanisms. Apple and Google maintain store policies that strictly prohibit such behavior.
Apple responded by removing Fortnite from the App Store within hours. Google has since followed suit and is no longer offering the game through its Play Store, though the Android version is still available through the Epic Games app and other third-party stores.
Google issued a statement detailing its decision to The Verge.
Shortly after Apple yanked Fortnite from the App Store, Epic filed a private antitrust lawsuit against the tech giant over App Store fees, restrictions on third-party app stores and other policies. The developer also launched a social media campaign to drum up support from users and the general public, going so far as to prepare a parody video of Apple's famous "1984" ad.
Update: Epic has sued Google over alleged anticompetitive practices. Like its fight with Apple, the developer paints a picture of duplicity -- mocking Google's already ridiculed "Don't Be Evil" motto -- in its suit. A corresponding parody video was not released.
Epic's update, which was pushed out to both iOS and Android versions of Fortnite, integrated methods for users to bypass App Store and Play Store in-app payment mechanisms. Apple and Google maintain store policies that strictly prohibit such behavior.
Apple responded by removing Fortnite from the App Store within hours. Google has since followed suit and is no longer offering the game through its Play Store, though the Android version is still available through the Epic Games app and other third-party stores.
Google issued a statement detailing its decision to The Verge.
Whether Epic intends to level a lawsuit against Google, as it did Apple, remains unclear.The open Android ecosystem lets developers distribute apps through multiple app stores. For game developers who choose to use the Play Store, we have consistent policies that are fair to developers and keep the store safe for users. While Fortnite remains available on Android, we can no longer make it available on Play because it violates our policies. However, we welcome the opportunity to continue our discussions with Epic and bring Fortnite back to Google Play.
Shortly after Apple yanked Fortnite from the App Store, Epic filed a private antitrust lawsuit against the tech giant over App Store fees, restrictions on third-party app stores and other policies. The developer also launched a social media campaign to drum up support from users and the general public, going so far as to prepare a parody video of Apple's famous "1984" ad.
Update: Epic has sued Google over alleged anticompetitive practices. Like its fight with Apple, the developer paints a picture of duplicity -- mocking Google's already ridiculed "Don't Be Evil" motto -- in its suit. A corresponding parody video was not released.
Comments
But why should they? They allow side-loading, don't they? Do they also block in-app purchases that don't go through Google Play or whatever Samsung's store is called?
Can we sue Epic for not allowing me to buy my Fortnite in-app items from Rockstar or someone? Do they have a monopoly on purchases made in Fortnite?
lol the knockoff App Store. Epic will sue them too.
Epic has a store too. We should sue them for being "anti-consumer" and not allowing 3rd party games to sell there for free.
This will be interesting but Epic will lose.
9.99x0.20=7.99 (“Awesome 20%” by going direct)
if they are sooo outrage about the decade old 30% from Apple why in the process of cutting Apple their revenue increase $1
I would have slightly care if they say: we aren’t paying apple the 30% you can buy direct for 6.99
but causing a s*t storm for Apple being greedy or a monopoly while you pocket an extra $1 of ton of users...sure this is about fairness
30% is industry standard. App Store give them access to millions of users yet they want it for free...unbelievable
You can sell your lemonade anywhere you want. You can make a website and sell it and distribute it directly. You can sell it from your home. You can sell it at a farmers market in your town. Or you can check other stores to get a lower rate to sell your lemonade. You have that freedom.
If your city had a law that said you cannot sell any goods in the town anywhere (not even online) except one city-run store, and that store demanded a 30% cut, wouldn't you think that is unfair?
The problem is, there is NO OTHER WAY to sell apps for i-devices than Apple's App Store as their own rules (and devices) restrict it. Because of that, it does seem unfair to me that apps can't accept payment through other means than the App Store. Maybe the app itself shouldn't be free so that Apple gets it's money, but once the app is sold, why should Apple continue to get revenue for everything purchased in the app? Since you like analogies, how about you buy a car so that you can start making money doing Uber, Dashpass, etc. But the car dealer demands a 30% cut of everything you make while you are driving the car they sold you? Same thing.
The problem is, these greedy devleopers like Spotify and Ms S for xCloud etc. don’t want to have to do any marketing etc.
But they could just create web-apps like Steve originally intended.