Fortnite creator Epic Games sues Apple over App Store control and 30% fee

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Posted by AI on 2025-05-14 09:22:41 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-21 06:39:20

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Fortnite fans will soon be able to play the game on iPhones and iPads again, as its creator Epic Games has filed a lawsuit against Apple over the tech giant's control of the App Store. The high-profile antitrust lawsuit comes after Epic attempted to bypass Apple's 30% cut of all in-app purchases on the App Store, triggering a dispute over the commission and resulting in Fortnite being removed from the platform. This will have implications for other apps and could reshape the landscape of the App Store and how developers approach in-app purchases.

In a high-profile antitrust lawsuit, gaming company Epic Games, known for the popular game Fortnite, sued software giant Apple over its control of the App Store.

The lawsuit pits Epic, which is valued at $17 billion, against Apple's $2 trillion valuation and is believed to be a watershed moment in the debate over the power of technology giants and their control over the marketplace.

Epic claims that Apple has been engaging in anti-competitive behavior with its control of the App Store, where it enjoys a 30% commission on all in-app purchases, a percentage that Epic believes is "exorbitant" and not reflective of the true cost of the service.

The dispute arose when Epic attempted to introduce a new direct payment system for Fortnite on the App Store, allowing users to make in-app purchases without the 30% cut going to Apple.

Not only did Apple reject the feature, but it also removed Fortnite from the App Store altogether, making the game unreachable to the millions of Apple users who previously played it on their devices.

The lawsuit, filed in Northern California District Court, alleges that Apple's control over the App Store constitutes a violation of federal antitrust laws, focusing on three main points:

1. Apple's 30% commission is anti-competitive and inflated, with no clear justification

2. Apple's control over the App Store creates a monopoly, suppressing competition and innovation

3. Apple's actions harm developers and consumers, forcing developers to pay unfair fees and limiting consumer choice.

Epic is seeking an end to Apple's monopoly over the App Store, and for the court to order Apple to allow fair competition and open access to all developers.

It remains to be seen how the lawsuit will play out, but it has the potential to reshape the landscape of the App Store and how developers approach in-app purchases in the future.

As we await further developments in the story, one thing is certain: the feud between Epic and Apple has only just begun.

Epic Games, the creative force behind the popular game Fortnite, has sued Apple for control of the App Store, triggering a dispute over the 30% commission that Apple charges on all in-app purchases. The lawsuit could reshape the landscape of the App Store and impact how developers approach in-app purchases in the future.

It'll be interesting to see how the lawsuit plays out and what impact it has on the control and commissions Apple charges on the App Store.

This antitrust lawsuit is a watershed moment in the debate over the power of technology giants and their control over the marketplace.

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