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Apple vs epic6/16/2023 ![]() Three, the trial will decide whether third-party app storefronts can launch on Apple devices. As Microsoft noted, this will have a massive impact over iOS games that use the Unreal Engine, and really could be a major factor for a lot of smaller games looking to launch on iOS. Two, it'll likely decide whether Epic can maintain access to the Unreal Engine on iOS platforms. One, and most obviously, it'll dictate whether one of the most popular games in the world can ever return to iOS devices. You'll want to keep an eye on the trial next May for a few key reasons. ![]() The company told (opens in new tab) that "it is simply seeking fair access and competition that will benefit all consumers." Apple meanwhile, claimed that it "look forward" to arguing its case to UK courts. The new lawsuits don't change much about the overall situation - Fortnite is still unavailable on the iOS store, pending a trial in May, and Epic isn't seeking damages from either company in the UK. Epic's hoping to stop Apple from preventing players from downloading the Epic Games Store on Apple devices, and wants Google to stop enforcing the pre-installation of Google Play on Android devices. ![]() The suits, filed in December, claim that both companies have "abused dominant position" and "engaged in anti-competitive agreements/concerted practices" in both the United Kingdom and the European Union. See more Epic takes legal action against Apple and Google to the UKĮpic has filed two new lawsuits, this time in the UK, against Apple and Google. The trial in particular, which is due to explore Apple's dominance as a monopoly over app distribution, is set for (opens in new tab). On October 7, it was announced that Epic and Apple would be heading to court for a trial next year. Apple and Epic head to court for a showdown Stressing that the ruling wasn't a "slam dunk" for either side, the judge allowed Epic to continually update the Unreal Engine, even if Fortnite wasn't reinstated on the App Store. However, the judge also ruled that Apple could not block Epic's access to the Unreal Engine. US District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers sided with Apple, and ruled that they did not have to immediately reinstate Fortnite (opens in new tab) onto the App Store. In late August, a judge ruled in Apple's favor - but only temporarily. Apple's temporary triumph over Epic in court If Epic's lawsuit against Apple was successful, and a third-party storefront was allowed on iOS devices, Microsoft would no longer be bound to Apple's rules for launching xCloud on iOS devices. xCloud has now launched in full on Android devices, bringing hundreds of games to the platform through the cloud, but it was shot down by Apple. When beta testing for xCloud concluded, it was clear that Microsoft's streaming service would never be able to launch on Apple, due to the platform holders policies on having to check and certify each individual game. Earlier in the year, when xCloud was in beta, Microsoft was only able to provide one game - Halo: The Master Chief Collection - for testing on iOS devices, in stark contrast to the tens of games released for the Android beta. There was also Microsoft's own history with Apple to consider. It would mean that games using the Unreal Engine would no longer be updated, so existing bugs and glitches wouldn't be fixable. Microsoft alleged that this would have a catastrophic effect for games on iOS devices that relied on the Unreal Engine. Microsoft filed a letter of support for Epic's lawsuit against Apple (opens in new tab), which mainly centred around Apple's decision to block Epic from accessing the Unreal Engine and updating it for iOS devices. Interestingly enough, Microsoft was vocal in its support of Epic's lawsuit against Apple. Microsoft files support for Epic against Apple It all boils down to this: Epic's lawsuit is aimed at getting their own storefront onto iOS devices, separate from the App Store, which would in turn open up similar options for other developers. Filing a lawsuit against Apple in California (opens in new tab), Epic asserted that it would launch its own app storefront on iOS devices, were it not for Apple's policies.Įpic stated that it felt obligated to charge more for V-Buck purchases on iOS devices due to Apple's transaction fees through the App Store. The Nineteen Eighty Fortnite video took a bit of attention away from Epic's ensuing lawsuit against Apple. Positioning itself as a corporation that could fight another corporation over dominance of the market, Epic took the fight right back to Apple after Fortnite was delisted from the App Store. The Nineteen Eighty Fortnite video was certainly a statement from Epic.
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