![]() We're speaking, of course, about video game consoles. That move came alongside a heavy-handed PR blitz, including a video asking players to "join the fight to stop 2020 from becoming '1984.'"īut through this entire public fight for "open mobile platforms," as Epic puts it, there is one major set of closed platforms that the company seems happy to continue doing business with. Then, when Fortnite was predictably removed from both platforms, Epic filed lawsuits against both companies, alleging "anti-competitive restraints and monopolistic practices" in the mobile app marketplace. First it added a discounted "Epic Direct Payment" option alongside the standard iOS App Store and Google Play payment options in Fortnite, in direct violation of those stores' policies. Apparently Apple is the target of some Antitrust investigations right now so Epic is timing this to go along with that? Heck, I bet if Apple went to Epic and said "Ok, we give up, we'll give you these favorable terms but don't tell anyone else on the old system" then there's a 50/50 chance Epic will say "Okay, let's settle the lawsuit and say nothing more.Further Reading Epic files suit against Apple after Fortnite pulled from iOS App Store Yesterday, Epic used Fortnite to essentially wage open war against Apple's and Google's mobile app marketplaces. ![]() I don't think Epic's suit is specifically against closed platforms, but maybe a more general attack against Apple to try to leverage some concessions that'll earn Epic more money. Like, I think you're allowed to make unlicensed NES games, it's just you have to do it completely without Nintendo's help and through legal reverse engineering and not theft of technical info. ![]() In fact, I don't think closed platforms are technically protected, what we're seeing in the console world as closed platforms are really platforms that feel closed due to the platform maker's hold over licensing of developer tools (like compilers), access to documentation, and anti-piracy measures. ![]() I'm not a lawyer, but I think closed platforms aren't specifically under attack. Apple (and the rest of the industry) could probably drop their margins, and this might in some way assist in the struggle, but this lawsuit wont go Epic's way, if they actually intend to follow through with it at all. It might, in the abstract, affect Epic's ability to improve the iOS support going forward but considering they host on their own blog guides by independent developers about how to attach mac support to the engine, one has to question how valuable their own development is.Īnywya the whole thing is grandstanding from Tim Sweeny, emboldened by his Tencent bux. They don't care if the underlying code comes from another licensed product (in this case, Unreal) games that use Unreal on the iPhone aren't going to stop working and games in development with it will still be able to come out because Epic isn't their publisher. I mean, Apple deal with content on the App store on a per app basis. I don't understand the handwringing from Epic over Unreal Engine not being supported if Apple revoke their developer license. It's ridiculous the directness of the fight being waged somewhat in public view, at least from Epic's side.Īnd then Apple has ESCALATED by now threatening ALL of Epic's tools in their ecosystem, including the beloved Unreal Engine? It's especially astounding that Epic had lawsuits seemingly ready to go with this AND a 1984 parody commercial to tweak Apple's nose, they INTENDED to make a big deal out of this. There's been so much firepower displayed, legal broadsides, and rabid direct-to-consumer marketing about this in such a short amount of time. I have a hard time envisioning this as a wholesale attack on closed platforms in particular, though if it grew into THAT much of a legal conflagration then definitely Nintendo would be affected.īut the ridiculousness is just how big these industry players are who are duking it out in public. Epic's rhetoric against Steam definitely seems a warm-up to this. I can see that in general a rebellion against the 30% take could possibly be good for all developers in the ecosystem, and also that Apple's absolute control over what software lands on the iTunes AppStore is possibly a little too strong (probably in this case, the most interesting recent example is Apple making XCloud pretty difficult to work on their platform). Serizawa "Let them fight" gif from Godzilla.
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