I wonder what the story is behind the scenes and why Epic felt the need to make this Hail Mary play.
Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th
51–60 of 996 posts
Re: Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th
#52Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do you think that Google, Microsoft, and Sony are also hostile and tone-deaf, then? One assumes so. All those platforms extract the same kinds of fees from Epic that Apple does. But mysteriously, Epic only wants to go after Apple.
Because on Android Epic can still have users install their games via a different app store.
But Google is still extracting the same 30% if users make in-app purchases.
Re: Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th
#53Re: Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th
#54This clearly and unambiguously crosses the line into abuse of market power. Apple's actions before? Maybe? Sort of? Apple needed that 30 percent cut to monitor for fraud and quality or something, going above-and-beyond other payment processors. This? This has absolutely no basis in anything. It's simple retaliation designed to kneecap Epic from Apple's dominant control of a market. Apple can refuse to let Epic releas…
On the contrary, there is a very solid basis. Epic has access to Apple's platform and dev tools because it has (or had) an agreement with Apple whereby it paid a percentage of profits earned in exchange for said access. Epic, btw, has the exact same kind of agreement with Sony, Microsoft, and Google, for access to their gaming platforms. All three of those companies are extracting the same 30% fee that Apple is. But…
> Epic, btw, has the exact same kind of agreement with Sony, Microsoft, and Google, for access to their gaming platforms. All three of those companies are extracting the same 30% fee that Apple is.
You don't have to agree to Epic's terms to access the platforms from Sony, MS and Google. You do, however, have to agree to Apple's terms to access their Platform.
Re: Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th
#55This clearly and unambiguously crosses the line into abuse of market power. Apple's actions before? Maybe? Sort of? Apple needed that 30 percent cut to monitor for fraud and quality or something, going above-and-beyond other payment processors. This? This has absolutely no basis in anything. It's simple retaliation designed to kneecap Epic from Apple's dominant control of a market. Apple can refuse to let Epic releas…
> Apple needed that 30 percent cut to monitor for fraud and quality or something, going above-and-beyond other payment processors.
How much do Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Steam, Gog and etc. take from publishers on their stores?
Re: Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th
#56Earlier quoted context omitted.
I personally thought they were already in abuse of market power. But on this latest development, I want to hear Apple's argument first. That said, I didn't find their argument on the first action compelling so not optimistic. But maybe they discovered some abuse, for one random, made-up example -- my point isn't to trust Apple but just to see what the reasoning is first. This tweet doesn't say if they were given any…
Yeah to be honest while I think Apple clearly has monopoly power here that should be reined in, I also get the feeling that Epic will have a pretty weak argument for why they purposely violated the Terms of Service and then expect to continue using the SDK tools.
I'll still be on Epic's side if they didn't violate the terms AFTER Apple removed their app. But if they, for example, tried to upload another app or something then Apple would then of course need to remove their access.
(I'm not REALLY on ANYBODY's side here. But I think App Store rules are unjust and bad for users and that Apple will lose this fight despite being able to take any losses financially for as long as they wish.)
Re: Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th
#57So if the government doesn’t side with Epic or bail them out at this point are they done for? Seems like Epic put everything on the line.
Epic has more revenue streams than just Apple's ecosystems.
Didn’t Google just shut down their deal with OnePlus though?
I mean if they’re no longer on good terms with Apple or Google that has to be a big chunk of their revenue stream?
Re: Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th
#58Earlier quoted context omitted.
Of course they should. But, market dominance means agreement to such terms are not 'fair'.
Yes, total market dominance with 10% market share.
60% market share by revenue in 2019.
Re: Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th
#59The real question is why do they get a warning ahead? No indie dev would.
Re: Apple to kill Epic’s accounts on Friday the 28th
#60It's fascinating to see the replies to the tweets. It appears most people don't care. They just want their game to work. A lesson in how your customers don't care about how your product is made.
Maybe, but it’s hard to glean anything concrete from just tweets these days.
Anecdotally, I’ve played fortnite for almost two years and most of my fortnite friends are pretty team-Epic on this controversy. But most of us are software devs professionally.