The comments and discussions are fascinating to observe. Here's the voices you can hear loudest and my thoughts on those.
> Epic broke Apple's ToS
Just because terms have been set, does not mean they are right or that they shouldn't be challenged. Remember, these terms were arbitrary when they were first set, why defend them as if it's written in the constitution?
> But Epic is a big greedy corp that only cares about its own profits
Yeah but Epic's win extends as a win to every small player in the ecosystem. In terms of size, Apple is a trillion-dollar company whereas Epic is multi billion-dollar company. The only people who can challenge Apple are companies like Epic, and not the small players and indie app & game developers.
> Apple's reactionary behaviour is just proving Epic's case
I know right! But that's the whole point that Epic started this saga with. Actually, it started before. Earlier this year HEY/Basecamp guys faced the same issue. Obviously they created a huge uproar, figured a path that works for them, and then shut up completely (instead of continuing the fight, as they promised they would). Epic here is fighting to make a change that will benefit everyone.
> But I'm an Apple user because I like the closed ecosystem
I get it, you want a platform to make decisions for you. In which case, you can continue using the App Store to get your dose of apps and games. But why does your indecision stand in the way of having alternative app stores where people who want to have a choice, get to make that choice.
> But Apple isn't a monopoly
There's 2 major phone OSes in the world. If you're making any kind of mobile game or mobile application, you HAVE to be on either or both mobile OSes. iOS has 60% of US market share, which means it IS a monopoly. Apple exclusively owns iOS. Apple is a monopoly.
Closing thoughts
In the end, I feel that people who don't understand the stand Epic is taking are people who have never done something of their own and failed or faced undue stress on their venture due to a large gatekeeper who stamps on whoever it pleases.
I feel the people defending Apple here NEED to defend Apple to satisfy their internal narrative, which would reflect in their life's pursuit to be a 1 in 10,000 employee of a billion-dollar company.
I'm airing the dirty laundry in the hopes that everyone gains empathy and perspective.