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Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

techcrunch.com

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Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#761

Post by jarsin »

archagon wrote: post #711
zengid wrote: post #663

This is some spicy shit from Apple: > “In the past, Epic has entered into agreements with Apple and then broken them,” Schiller reminds the game maker in the letter dated February 23, 2024. “You also testified that Epic deliberately violated Apple’s rules, to make a point and for financial gain. More recently, you have described our DMA compliance as ‘hot garbage,’ a ‘horror show,’ and a ‘devious new instance of Mali…

If I'm an app developer, am I not allowed to complain about Apple's policies on social media?

I have seen quotes from execs that they heavily frown upon devs publicly criticizing them.

Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#762

Post by idle_zealot »

Findeton wrote: post #435
jjmarr wrote: post #413

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When there's a big power imbalance, putting the onus on the service provider to give a valid reason for denying customers can be more impactful than laying the burden on a user to prove there was discrimination. Depending on your race/ethnicity/disability/socioeconomic status, taxi drivers might refuse service even though it is against the law. It is easier to win against a taxi driver if they're obligated to explain…

I respectfully disagree because that goes against individual freedom. I understand that historically in the US there's been racism but that's no reason to erode individual freedom.

A taxi company is not an individual.

Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#763

Post by mwest217 »

bonestamp2 wrote: post #719
ApolloFortyNine wrote: post #463

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Epic also intentionally broke agreements with Apple before. This is funny to point out since they did it specifically to sue over it (you pretty much can't other wise). So Apple has their draconian 30% cut or there's literally no other way to have an application run on iOS policy, you can't challenge it without breaking it so you can sue, and because you broke it to sue you are now permanently barred from every maki…

I'm not a lawyer so please excuse this potentially dumb question, but why do they have to break the agreement to sue them?

Also not a lawyer, but my understanding is that in order to have standing to sue, you must be able to show that you were damaged by the behavior you are trying to file suit against.

Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#764

Post by albert180 »

matthewdgreen wrote: post #681
Despegar wrote: post #57

Epic perhaps thought Apple might show them grace after the lawsuit in the US. A kind of repeat of the Apple-Samsung litigation where everyone has a "it's just business" attitude and keeps doing business together while simultaneously suing each other. Apple on the other hand has decided they will show them no quarter. I don't think they're being emotional about it. I think it's to show every other developer that they…

Epic is sending a strong signal to regulators that they're malicious, and can't be trusted to police themselves. It's a terrible look under the circumstances.

You misspelled Apple

Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#765

Post by Narkov »

tebbers wrote: post #612
wkat4242 wrote: post #609

Ummm lol. So now sideloading is allowed (with lots of costs associated mind you) and if someone wants to use it Apple will just kick them off the platform? :') So first malicious compliance with all the inflated costs and then they don't even allow people to use it. I really hope the EU will crack down on this BS and force Apple to allow real sideloading. But anyway I've written Apple out of my life a long time ago.

There’s no way the EU allows Apple’s interpretation of the DMA after they did this, Apple really made a mistake here. As you say, how can you be sure that alternative app stores won’t just be booted off by Apple for $REASON?

Just need some context here...one of the biggest companies in the world, ever, with all the financial and legal resources available to them, and you think they aren't playing 5D chess?

Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#766

Post by archagon »

jarsin wrote: post #761
archagon wrote: post #711

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I'm an app developer, am I not allowed to complain about Apple's policies on social media?

I have seen quotes from execs that they heavily frown upon devs publicly criticizing them.

Given that notarization is basically required to run apps on all Apple platforms these days, that is deeply troubling.

Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#767

Post by jes5199 »

vlod wrote: post #529

Wondering how this affects Apple employees. Back in the day, working for Apple seemed cool. (Pirate flags on building etc). Previously MSFT used to be (maybe they've turned that around?) the most hated tech company (becz of their very aggressive attitudes to competitors especially Netscape). One thing they didn't FU and is represented by the infamous sweaty Balmer video [0] of him shouting "Developers, developers, de…

well, I've published iOS apps but every time I have to go through the app review process I ask myself: is this really worth it? To have an inscrutable and vaguely hostile process tell me whether my customers are allowed to run my code? Increasingly often, my answer is no. Maybe the fight with Epic doesn't affect me directly, but it's just another thing that colors my impression of the "fairness" of the app store.

Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#768

Post by doctorpangloss »

mrtksn wrote: post #45

I wonder why Apple doesn't open up their platforms to have everything best on their devices instead of fighting and agonising developers and governments. Yes yes, the commission is nice but they might be killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. I mean, Apple is amazingly good in some areas but in some other areas their products are used only because they don't give a choice and they intent to keep it this way. Th…

> embracing the industry standards

The iPhone has legendary levels of crapitude.

Consider every app you use on the iPhone that is authored by Apple. Would you or its stakeholders still use it if you weren't forced to?

Mail? Calendar? Safari? Photos? Music? Fucking Messages? No, no, no, no, no, no.

Don't misunderstand me. I am talking about access to the exact same first party APIs and integrations Apple's software has, and giving it to third party developers. The functionality is so painfully basic, but nonetheless gated, of course a third party would be able to author something better. Like you think Spotify wouldn't give you Siri compatibility? It's just not allowed to.

The App Store is just the crappiest of them all. I don't think people realize how fees and its absolutely horrible discovery is responsible for the shitty state of apps today. I have been in this business a long time, and have met a lot of people, and it is absolutely, 100% Apple's fault that App Store games suck, and Steam's don't. The device is as powerful as a Nintendo Switch nowadays!

Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#769

Post by PreachSoup »

pelorat wrote: post #590
batrat wrote: post #537

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can install any store (ex: fdroid, aurora, etc) on Android already.

Yes, but no-one does. Those stores only make sense if you have installed a de-googled AOSP, and their offering is maybe half a percent of what's on Google Play. It's an option for hackers, tinkerer and developers. I guess it's nice the option exist, but in practice it make no difference. Most consumers are not even aware that you can sideload apps or that there's alternative app stores.

But the point is always about the capability. I am using Android because ios is lacking the things I want. For example, granular volume control ( even the lowest volume on iphone is still too high for me sometimes), firefox

Re: Apple terminates Epic Games developer account, calling it a 'threat' to iOS

#770

Post by refulgentis »

daemin wrote: post #757
amelius wrote: post #742

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The issue is that Epic doesn’t want to be Apple’s customer in the first place. They want to publish iOS apps. The fact that this requires them to be an Apple customer is the core problem. Indeed. It all boils down to: if I buy a product from company A, then want to use that product to do business with company B, why does company A have anything to say about it? Am I not the owner of my device?

Increasingly in this modern world, no, you are not the owner of the device. You're more like purchasing the right to use it for a time, in the way that the makers want you to use it. This applies across PCs, Macs, and Phones where Microsoft, Apple, and Google all try to up-sell you on their online services and now their "AI tools".

Had me until 'AI tools'
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