Now that Fortnite is back on the App Store (in the United States at least), will Epic want to continue its legal guerrilla war against Apple? What is certain is that the Cupertino manufacturer has no intention of giving up its appeal against the US court decision that forces it to accept apps directing users to their own online stores.
Reinforcement for Epic Games in its legal battle against Apple
This is of course the case for Fortnite, which upon its return to the App Store, offers players the option of purchasing V-Bucks (the game's currency) with the traditional in-app purchases system of the App Store or on the online Epic Games Store. In the first case, Apple receives its 30% commission; In the second, Apple can sit on it, allowing Epic to offer the player a small discount.
But what will happen if Apple wins its appeal? This return to square one would mean that Fortnite, but also Spotify or Amazon will certainly have to remove the links to their online stores. Microsoft wants to avoid this blunder for its own Xbox application. The publisher filed an amicus brief yesterday on behalf of Epic.
This brief specifically challenges Apple's attempt to overturn the injunction that allows developers like Epic to promote alternative payment methods in their apps without paying Apple a commission for purchases made outside of the apps.
Microsoft deplores Apple's obstruction of its Xbox app, which since last month has rolled out the ability to purchase games in the mobile app—but by removing the Remote Play feature from an Xbox console. This feature would have prompted Apple to claim its tithe, since all paid content "consumed" on the smartphone (such as a game) is supposed to go through an App Store purchase.
Before the court injunction, Microsoft was unable to offer payments through external links, or even to inform its users about alternative payment methods due to Apple's aggressive policy restricting these practices. The court's decision technically makes it possible to launch game purchases in the Xbox mobile app, but Microsoft wants to ensure that Apple's appeal of the ruling is unsuccessful.
If Apple is granted even a temporary stay, Microsoft would be forced to remove its links during the appeal process. The group insists that the decision be enforced during Apple's appeal process. It states that "Microsoft's experience in managing app stores confirms that Apple's policies could be restored if Apple ultimately prevails on appeal."
As for the removal of the Remote Play feature on the iPhone, it is detrimental to players who must go to a mobile website to access their games via Xbox Cloud Gaming. This is actually the crux of the dilemma for Microsoft, as Steam and PlayStation Store iOS apps have always allowed you to buy games, but without cloud gaming functionality.
Source: The Verge
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