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Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

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Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#511

Post by pfranz »

whiddershins wrote: post #484

All I want is a system preference that says ‘allow apps from other sources than the apple App Store.’ And I want that setting to work exactly as you imagine. And then everything else problematic about this debate would disappear.

I don't think it's that clear-cut. Specifically because this is coming from Epic. I've avoided some of the Assassin's Creed games on PC because I don't want to create a Uplay account, app launcher, or whatever. I'll play them on console and I'll probably buy a disc. I'm bummed about games being "X app store exclusive."

It also muddies things like moving to a new phone, parental controls, iCloud save/syncing, and things like refunds or expired subscriptions.

I'm not saying Apple isn't wrong here. I'm just pessimistic about what Epic is pushing for. It's way more in their interest than mine.

It's going to really suck when a normal office computer will need an OS, an "Adobe store" app (just for Photoshop), a "Microsoft store" app (just for Office), and a separate store app/account for any company big enough to push it on their users.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#512

Post by firloop »

acomjean wrote: post #502
java-man wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hope it does. Monopolies lead to stagnation, rising prices, and inferior product quality. Even though Apple is not a monopoly in the strict sense, I think we consumers will benefit from alternative app store - or Apple opening up the platform. I believe one can still have (moderately) secure ecosystem without it being a walled garden.

Its very deceptive. All those kids who have had their game shut off aren't going to be happy, but they're learning a valuable lesson. Fortnite isn't just a game anymore, its where a lot of kids are hanging out. concerts, movies and other things are happening there.

Nobody has really “had their game shut off”. People who have Fortnite installed already are still able to play it indefinitely. Apple could have done this by revoking Epic’s developer certificate, but that hasn’t yet happened.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#513

Post by briandear »

the-pigeon wrote: post #105
bluedevil2k wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

TOS can't violate laws though. A contract that is in violation of the law isn't enforceable. Epic is looking for a judgement to make it illegal.

Expanding on this. The idea that a large platform like iOS can only have apps loaded through a market place controlled by the hardware manufactured is clearly in violation of the spirit of anti-trust laws. However there's no legal precedent on this because no one with deep enough pockets to fight Apple has been angry enough to do it yet. Meaning this could be great news for everyone if this goes to court and Apple lo…

Yet Xbox, Ninetendo, PlayStation..

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#514

Post by tommymachine »

briandear wrote: post #510
0xy wrote: post #505

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A PR stunt that consumers and small businesses could benefit from. 30% decimates indie studios and makes some apps fiscally nonviable.

Has it decimated an indie studio? Just curious as to what studios have been decimated.

Technically they’ve been triple-decimating everyone, since to decimate is to kill one tenth of

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#515

Post by 0xy »

tommymachine wrote: post #509
0xy wrote: post #505

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A PR stunt that consumers and small businesses could benefit from. 30% decimates indie studios and makes some apps fiscally nonviable.

You’re kidding right? You think this is going to make a difference in the cut? The word you’re looking for by the way is “financially”. Fiscally is to do with taxes.

The word usage was correct. [1]

[1] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/fiscally

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#516

Post by [deleted] »

js2 wrote: post #254
andreasley wrote: post #56

Epic Games has filed a lawsuit [1] and published a Fortnite-themed parody of Apple's "1984" [2] to get some publicity for it. [1] https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/apple-complaint-734589783.pdf [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euiSHuaw6Q4

I like the parody, but it's not really equivalent. The original Apple parody was to convince consumers to switch from one platform (PC) to a different platform (Mac). Now, maybe you believe Apple, in the form of iOS, has become Big Brother. Fine, in that case, Epic should provide its own gaming platform. But Epic isn't trying to destroy Big Brother here. It still wants to run on Big Brother's platform. It just doesn'…

[deleted]

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#517

Post by julianlam »

tommymachine wrote: post #509
0xy wrote: post #505

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A PR stunt that consumers and small businesses could benefit from. 30% decimates indie studios and makes some apps fiscally nonviable.

You’re kidding right? You think this is going to make a difference in the cut? The word you’re looking for by the way is “financially”. Fiscally is to do with taxes.

https://www.lexico.com/definition/fiscal

The OED establishes a North American usage of this term as "relating to financial matters", and is not exclusive to taxes.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#518

Post by ss3000 »

I wonder why Fortnite doesn't also make a WebAssembly version of Fortnight and deploy it on fortnite.com?

Then Apple would get jack shit from any sales there, so they can fight this battle with them while still offering access to the game for Apple users.

I'm probably missing some esoteric limitation Apple places on web-based games to cripple this use case.

Re: Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

#520

Post by gpm »

AdamJacobMuller wrote: post #487
dgrin91 wrote: post #368

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Epic stated that they want to create their own separate app store outside of apple, but are unable to because apple does not allow sideloading. So no, Epic doesn't want to run on Big Brother's platform.

The platform is not merely the App Store. The hardware, the OS, the APIs, they are all part of the platform.

The hardware is not Apple's, it belongs to the owner of the device.

Arguably I think there would be a reasonable anti-trust suit against the OS as well, it's not clear to me why it isn't illegal to utilize their monopoly on their hardware to create a monopoly on the OS running on the device.

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