Advertisement
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced Wednesday that Apple has rejected the gaming company’s application for adeveloper account to launch the iPhone App Store in Europe. Sweeney claimed that Apple’s decision was in retaliation forEpic Games’ anti-trust campaign, the lawsuit against Apple, and Sweeney’s own media reporting.
Swinney called Apple’s behavior “very disappointing” and compared technology to “rarely bad people.” The giantbecame a “medieval feudal lord” who punished his rivals. The move marks Apple’s first public refusal to compete in theEuropean app store and could face further scrutiny for its compliance with the region’s new privacy laws.
The dispute between Apple and Epic Games dates back to 2020, when Epic sued Apple over the possibility that its populargame Fortnite could bypass Apple’s App Store rules and escape the platform. 30% commission is paid on sales. Although Epic’slegal fight led Apple to change some rules, the tension between the two companies continued.
An Apple spokesperson defended Epic Games’ decision to reject developer accounts, citing Epic’s breach of contract and Apple’s ongoing lawsuits against Epic Games. According to Apple, the court confirmed its right to terminate sales of EpicGames at its sole discretion.
As Apple moves to comply with the Digital Commerce Act, which requires it to open its platform to competitors, Epic Gamesplans to open a new app store in Europe. However, Apple’s refusal to give Epic Games a developer account disrupted theplans.
In a statement released by Epic Games, Apple App Store head Phil Schiller addressed Sweeney’s comments regarding the2020 lawsuit and Epic Games’ previous attempts to pass the App Store bill. Schiller asked Sweeney to reassure Epic Games ofits commitment to comply with its agreement with Apple.
Sweeney confirmed Epic Games’ commitment to compatibility but criticized Apple’s demands for greater warranty andattempts to silence criticism. He accused Apple of seeking justice and trying to avoid dissent.
The dispute between Epic Games and Apple underscores broader challenges facing tech companies, particularly around competition and open platforms. As the legal battle between the two companies continues, the outcome could have significant implications for the future of application distribution and regulatory protection in the tech industry.