Fortnite has been absent from iOS for several years due to a long-running dispute with Apple over commissions from App Store purchases. At least in Europe, however, Epic saw the light at the end of the tunnel, thanks to the new DMA (Digital Markets Act) rules, which allowed it to create its own application store, on which the company would offer the mobile hit Fortnite. But on the day the new rules went into effect, Apple decided to take an unprecedented step. Studio Epic Games canceled the developer accountand thus lost access to the creation of its own application store.
Apple approved the creation of a developer account through which Epic wanted to create its own app store. Subsequently, Apple sent lawyers to him and canceled the account. How will the European Commission react to this behavior?
A curious situation has an interesting ending. Epic released the evidence in its press release, attaching a history of email communications. It shows that Apple “in good faith” approved a developer account for the Epic Games studio, but it soon expired. The reasons are hidden directly in the e-mail communication that is proof of Apple’s “retaliation”. for the words that the head of the Epic Games company said in connection with Apple’s new rules. That is, to the rules that Spotify and 32 other companies offering their services in Europe do not agree with.
The competition cannot open an app store
Officially, however, Apple states that the previous court proceedings gave it the option to terminate any services and software provided by the Epic Games studio at any time, and that it is doing nothing other than that it is just beginning to follow this decision. Also, Epic cannot be taken as a “trusted partner”. But in light of the DMA rules, which aim to open up the market more to competing services, Apple’s current behavior is something like a red rag to a bull. According to the Epic studio, this is a serious violation of the DMA rules, that it is only proof that Apple has no intention of letting any competition on iOS devices.
Considering the past of both companies and the limited availability of games on iOS, it can be expected that a possible deal from Epic would be on iOS one of the biggest competitors for the existing App Store. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney is calling for a swift and forceful response from the European Commission. On the other hand, it’s also possible that Apple has found a loophole in the DMA rules, and that it won’t face any penalty or legal action for not approving a potential direct competitor’s developer account. Only time will tell.
What about the European Commission?
In the meantime, Apple has quietly adjusted the conditions for the creation of an alternative App Store. Its developers no longer always require proof of access to one million euros for the purpose of running and supporting the application store. I’m enough for them “be a member of the Apple Developer Program in good standing and have an app that has had more than one million first annual installs in the EU in the previous calendar year”. With regard to the change in this rule, the financial security side of the trade seems completely unnecessary.
But now it is the turn of the European Commission to issue a clear opinion on what it thinks about Apple’s actions and conditions, and whether it is at risk of any sanctions or not. In the last week alone, he has a lot of stimuli that he will have to start dealing with sooner or later.
2024-03-07 10:55:46
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