Apple stated in mid-August that if Fortnite continues to violate App Store rules, it will deactivate Epic Games’ developer account. Today, Apple took this “threat” into action and terminates Epic's access to their developer account.
Fortnite has been unavailable for several weeks, but other games from Epic are still in the App Store. Now, the Epic Games developer account has been disabled, which means that these apps will disappear.
Even though the Epic Games developer account is no longer available, users can continue to play if they have already downloaded Fortnite on their iPhones or iPads. However, since the popular battle royale game cannot be updated, users will not be able to access the new Marvel-themed Season 4 content.
The ongoing battle between Apple and Epic Games was first brought into the light on August 13, when the former introduced a direct payment option that allowed direct payments to Epic Games, thereby skipping Apple’s in-app purchase system.
Apple removed Fornite from the App Store shortly after Epic blatantly ignored the App Store policy, which also led to Epic filed a lawsuit, and the legal dispute between the two companies quickly escalated.
Beforehand, Apple told Epic Games it's ready to "welcome Fortnite back onto iOS" if they removed the direct payment option, but Epic has declined to do so.
In a statement, Apple confirmed that the Epic Games developer account has been terminated:
Image Via ForbesEven though the Epic Games developer account is no longer available, users can continue to play if they have already downloaded Fortnite on their iPhones or iPads. However, since the popular battle royale game cannot be updated, users will not be able to access the new Marvel-themed Season 4 content.
The ongoing battle between Apple and Epic Games was first brought into the light on August 13, when the former introduced a direct payment option that allowed direct payments to Epic Games, thereby skipping Apple’s in-app purchase system.
Apple removed Fornite from the App Store shortly after Epic blatantly ignored the App Store policy, which also led to Epic filed a lawsuit, and the legal dispute between the two companies quickly escalated.
Beforehand, Apple told Epic Games it's ready to "welcome Fortnite back onto iOS" if they removed the direct payment option, but Epic has declined to do so.
In a statement, Apple confirmed that the Epic Games developer account has been terminated:
We are disappointed that we have had to terminate the Epic Games account on the App Store. We have worked with the team at Epic Games for many years on their launches and releases. The court recommended that Epic comply with the App Store guidelines while their case moves forward, guidelines they’ve followed for the past decade until they created this situation. Epic has refused. Instead they repeatedly submit Fortnite updates designed to violate the guidelines of the App Store. This is not fair to all other developers on the App Store and is putting customers in the middle of their fight. We hope that we can work together again in the future, but unfortunately that is not possible today.
The Epic International developer account will remain, as a judge has ordered Apple to not terminate the account, which is affiliated with Epic's Unreal Engine used by third-party developers.
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