In the Fortnite dispute with Apple, a software giant is now backing Epic Games. In court, Microsoft submitted a statement to prevent Epic from being cut off from the developer tools for iOS and Mac platforms.
The situation is as follows: Currently, Apple and Epic Games are in a court battle regarding Fortnite.
Epic attempted to bypass App Store fees with a proprietary direct purchase system for in-game currency. Apple (and Google) subsequently removed the game from the App Store and threatens to cut off the creators of Fortnite from the developer tools for Apple platforms.
Now there is prominent support for Epic Games in the ongoing legal dispute – from software giant Microsoft.
Microsoft sides with Epic Games
This is what Microsoft has done: As Xbox chief Phil Spencer recently announced on Twitter, Microsoft submitted a statement in court. This is a letter of support for Epic Games. The software giant is backing the creators of Fortnite.
What is behind the support statement? In principle, it aims to help obtain a preliminary injunction against Apple. This would prevent Apple from cutting off the Epic Games developers from the dev tools (Apple SDK), which are needed to develop games but also for Epic’s Unreal Engine, on which numerous mobile games are based.
The statement came from Microsoft General Manager of Gaming Developer Experiences Kevin Gammill. In summary, Gammill makes it clear that Epic’s Unreal Engine is a “critical technology” for Microsoft itself, as well as for many other developers. And if Apple were to prevent updates to the Unreal Engine through its actions, it would harm not only game developers but also gamers.
The essentials of the Fortnite dispute
What triggered it: A little over a week ago, Epic Games rebelled against Apple and Google. The developers of Fortnite introduced in an update the direct purchase for V-Bucks, allowing them to bypass the App Store fees. V-Bucks are additionally cheaper and thus more attractive with Epic’s direct purchase. Apple and Google saw this as a breach of contract.
This was the reaction: The tech giants reacted promptly and removed both Fortnites from their app stores. Epic then sued both companies and attacked Apple with a video parody of an iconic Apple ad and with the initiative #FreeFortnite. Subsequently, Apple threatened to cut Epic Games off from the developer tools for Apple platforms if the Fortnite creators did not comply by August 28.
Epic subsequently filed for a preliminary injunction against Apple in the competent court to prevent this. Now there is help from Microsoft.
By the way, you can find out more about the background here What lies behind Fortnite 1984, the attack on Apple and #FreeFortnite
