Fortnite Kicked Off from Apple and Google App Stores
Fortnite is a popular online game that was released in 2017 by Epic Games. It is famous among gamers of all ages with 350m registered players from all around the globe. The main reason for its popularity is that it is addictive, free of cost, and players can talk during combat via voice chat. It is a multi-platform game that is available on nearly every gaming console like Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo. Its mobile version is also available on iOS and Android. It can be played on PC.
Recently Apple and Google removed Fortnite from their play stores as the Epic Games violated their in-app payment instructions and introduced their direct payment method. The tech giants take 30% of the purchase on each transaction made in Fortnite. Though it is a free-to-play game, the game company earns a good fortune by in-game purchases. The monetization starts when gamers want to acquire additional costumes and skins which need to be bought via in-game currency “V-buck” that can be bought with real money. On Thursday Epic Games updated the game app and introduced its in-app payment method where players were asked to buy “V-bucks” directly from the developer, thereby circumventing the in-app payment guidelines of both Apple and Google. This resulted in their ban from the app stores of the tech giants.
In response to their ban, Epic Games made a video spoof of Apple’s original advertisement that was made to criticize the powerful companies of that time. It was aired in 1984 when Macintosh computer was introduced. The video calls all the players and fans of Fortnite to join the battle against today’s tech giants’ and their monopoly. Epic Games has also filed a lawsuit against the iron grip of tech giants’ over the industry.
Epic Games is trolling Apple with a “1984” Fortnite video. It’s pretty… epic pic.twitter.com/4a8DJfJa5b
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) August 13, 2020
Google spokesperson Dan Jackson said, “We welcome the opportunity to continue our discussions with Epic and bring Fortnite back to Google Play”. After removal, Epic Games received support from some other tech companies too. A spokesperson from Spotify said, “the company applauds the decision to take a stand against Apple and shed further light on Apple’s abuse of its dominant position”.”
