Apple Provides Response to Latest Ploy by Epic Games, Says its Not Willing to Make Exceptions

In the ongoing battle between Apple and Epic Games, Apple has issued a statement after revoking Epic Games’ access to iOS and Mac developer tools in the Apple Developer Program by August 28th. The company is firmly standing by their decision, saying that they “won’t make an exception for Epic”.

The situation between Apple and Fortnite developer and publisher Epic Games has been steadily escalating. Last week, Epic Games snuck in an update that was designed to get around the in-app payment system on the App Store. Apple quickly caught wind of this and removed Fortnite from the App Store. Epic retaliated by airing a short mocking the ‘1984’ Apple ad and filed a lawsuit against the company.

It didn’t end there. Recently, Apple had told Epic Games that it would be revoking the company’s access to the Apple Developer Program. Epic publically revealed that on August 28th, its developers would be cut off. Additionally, Epic filed a court order to stop Apple from doing so.

Now, Apple has issued a formal response. In a statement The Verge, Apple says that it wants “to keep the company as part of the Apple Developer Program and their apps on the Store”. However, the company stands firm in its decision. As Apple sees it, Epic Games brought the problem upon itself. Apple is willing to work alongside Epic Games, but only if the company complies with its App Store policies.

The full statement is as followed:

“The App Store is designed to be a safe and trusted place for users and a great business opportunity for all developers. Epic has been one of the most successful developers on the App Store, growing into a multibillion dollar business that reaches millions of iOS customers around the world. We very much want to keep the company as part of the Apple Developer Program and their apps on the Store. The problem Epic has created for itself is one that can easily be remedied if they submit an update of their app that reverts it to comply with the guidelines they agreed to and which apply to all developers. We won’t make an exception for Epic because we don’t think it’s right to put their business interests ahead of the guidelines that protect our customers.”

Apple wasn’t alone in removing Fortnite form its app marketplace. Google also removed the game from the Google Play Store. The Fortnite update which saw a loophole given to players to purchase V-bucks (in-game currency) directly through Epic Games. This negated the policies of both the App Store and Google Play Store, which gives sees each platform owner get a 30 percent cut. Epic Games has also filed a lawsuit against Google amidst the removal of Fortnite from the Google Play Store.