Epic says Apple no longer plans to disable 'Sign in with Apple'
Apple has reportedly provided an "indefinite extension" to Epic Games' access to the "Sign in with Apple" feature.
Credit: Apple
The update comes a day after Epic Games tweeted that Apple was disabling their users' access to the quick sign-in feature. Apple closed Epic Games' developer account on Aug. 28.
In a tweet on Thursday, the Fortnite Status profile told users that Apple had "reversed course" and would not terminate "Sign in with Apple" support by Sept. 11.
The Twitter account still recommends that Epic Games users "prepare" their accounts for the removal of the feature.
It isn't clear if Apple decided to back off on the threat of terminating "Sign in with Apple," or if the closure of Epic's developer account led to some sort of automated cancellation notice. There appears to be discrepancies in Epic's claims, however.
In a statement to The Verge, Apple said it was not actively seeking to disable "Sign in with Apple" compatibility with Epic Games. The comment suggests at least one party is distorting or misrepresenting the facts.
The update is only the latest chapter in the legal saga between Apple and Epic Games. It kicked off when Epic baited Apple into removing "Fortnite" from the App Store, filed an antitrust lawsuit against the company, and unsuccessfully attempted to restore the game in court.
Credit: Apple
The update comes a day after Epic Games tweeted that Apple was disabling their users' access to the quick sign-in feature. Apple closed Epic Games' developer account on Aug. 28.
In a tweet on Thursday, the Fortnite Status profile told users that Apple had "reversed course" and would not terminate "Sign in with Apple" support by Sept. 11.
UPDATE: Apple previously stated they would terminate "Sign In with Apple" support for Epic Games accounts after Sept 11, 2020, but today provided an indefinite extension. We still recommend you prepare your accounts now for "Sign In with Apple" removal. https://t.co/T0Rq0tfrR7
-- Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus)
The Twitter account still recommends that Epic Games users "prepare" their accounts for the removal of the feature.
It isn't clear if Apple decided to back off on the threat of terminating "Sign in with Apple," or if the closure of Epic's developer account led to some sort of automated cancellation notice. There appears to be discrepancies in Epic's claims, however.
In a statement to The Verge, Apple said it was not actively seeking to disable "Sign in with Apple" compatibility with Epic Games. The comment suggests at least one party is distorting or misrepresenting the facts.
The update is only the latest chapter in the legal saga between Apple and Epic Games. It kicked off when Epic baited Apple into removing "Fortnite" from the App Store, filed an antitrust lawsuit against the company, and unsuccessfully attempted to restore the game in court.
Comments
When you lose a developer account you lose access to Sign In with Apple because they’re tied together.
So Epic didn’t have their developer account FULLY revoked as Sign In still works. I don’t know of any other company that had their account revoked, but still retained access to some features. It’s an all-or- nothing ban.
So Epic is getting “preferred” treatment here.
Standard practice for Apple would be to terminate everything on Aug 28th. They didn’t. Further, Epic never announced to users that Sign In would stop working on Aug 28th. How did they know this? Most likely because Apple told them so way back then.
It's quite possible that the feature was disabled for the blocked account and not the forced-by-a-judge-to-remain-active account.
(edited to remove typo)
Let's say I'm a bus driver and I drive a bus that helps old and infirm people travel into town and back to get their shopping and other errands done. I know that there are rules that I have to follow, and I obey those rules for more than a decade.
Then, one day I decide I want to be able to drink alcohol while driving the bus. I check with the DMV, who say it's not allowed, but I decide to do it anyway and then complain loudly that I have a right to do whatever I want and those rules are illegal so I shouldn't have to follow them. I lose my driver's licence, and now those old folk don't have access to the service I used to provide.
WHO CAUSED THE HARM TO THE OLD PEOPLE?
There, does that argument hold any water? Is it at least cogent and thought provoking? Let me repeat, I'm not at all on Epic's side here, but Sweeney and anyone arguing on his side has been acting brain dead, so I thought I'd try to make their case for them. And I wrote that out in full in one brief sitting. In order to help ensure Apple wins, they need to examine every possible argument Epic might make, and although I doubt Apple needs help, this post is intended to help them. Feel free to support or attack the argument above. Ultimately, I think, this is really a matter for lawmakers and not for the courts. The law has not been keeping up with technology very well.
It wasn’t disabled on the 28th or we would have heard likely millions of complaints from
users. So Apple made an exception for Epic and customers and Epic repays Apple with more bullshit.
Now if Apple had disabled Fortnite completely from their iDevices, even for those that had Fortnite already installed before the ban, then I can see Apple disabling Apple sign in for Epic accounts. No need to sign into your Epic account from your iDevice using Apple sign in, if you can't play Fortnite on any iDevice.