Apple has terminated Epic Games’ App Store developer account after reinstating it a few weeks ago. The Fortnite maker alleges that Apple is unfairly retaliating against it following criticisms of how the Cupertino company is complying with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) with iOS 17.4 (via TechCrunch).
The termination means that Epic Games won’t be allowed to create an alternative app marketplace for iPhone users in the European Union running iOS 17.4, which launched earlier this week. Epic Games has harshly criticized Apple’s termination decision, calling it a “serious violation” and one that shows that the company is going full steam against “true competition” on its platforms.
In terminating Epic’s developer account, Apple is taking out one of the largest potential competitors to the Apple App Store. They are undermining our ability to be a viable competitor and they are showing other developers what happens when you try to compete with Apple or are critical of their unfair practices.
Epic Games
The games studio further alleges that Apple is retaliating against earlier comments made by its CEO Tim Sweeney, in which he labeled Apple’s planned DMA compliance as “devious” and nothing more than “malicious compliance.” Epic Games has also disclosed email communications from Apple-affiliated lawyers and Apple Fellow Phil Schiller to back up its claims. In the email, Schiller does not hold back from pointing out the behavior of the Fortnite maker and its “past practice of intentionally violating contractual provisions.”
In response to accusations from Epic Games, Apple has issued the following statement to TechCrunch which confirms its termination of the former’s developer accounts over its “past and ongoing behavior.” Apple is referencing its first suspension of one of Epic’s accounts in 2020 over its inclusion of a third-party payment system for in-app purchases within Fortnite on the App Store. This termination kicked off a highly publicized legal battle between both companies, which almost reached the United States Supreme Court.
Epic’s egregious breach of its contractual obligations to Apple led courts to determine that Apple has the right to terminate ‘any or all of Epic Games’ wholly owned subsidiaries, affiliates, and/or other entities under Epic Games’ control at any time and at Apple’s sole discretion.’ In light of Epic’s past and ongoing behavior, Apple chose to exercise that right.
Apple statement to TechCrunch
In February, Epic confirmed that it has plans to launch its Epic Games Store on the iPhone as an alternative app marketplace, but those plans now appear to be in limbo following Apple’s latest decision. Other developers with a functioning App Store developer account are now able to build and submit alternative app marketplaces, which should be available to EU iPhone users running iOS 17.4 as soon as Apple approves those marketplaces.
