Video games: Fortnite, Apple and Google battle it out

A scene from the short film Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite released by video game maker Epic Games that was viewed by users of the game Fortnite, after Apple removed the game from its App Store. Epic Games / Reuters

Text by: Pauline Gleize Follow

2 min

The two giants withdrew the video game from their application stores on Thursday. Retaliatory measure after Epic Games, the publisher of the hugely popular Fortnite, attempted to bypass commission payment systems. Commissions that are not trivial.

Publicity

Read more

Apple's app download platforms and Google's Playstore charge 15-30% commission on Fortnite user transactions. However, e-players do not hesitate to spend online to equip their characters and spice up the games.

To avoid having to pay this tax which he describes as “  tyrannical  ”, Epic Games has therefore installed an alternative payment method. But, integrated systems are mandatory. Apple and Google believe that the studio did not follow the rules, reason enough in their eyes to oust it.

Consequence: players with an Apple brand device will be able to continue playing, but they will no longer receive updates.

Epic Games has therefore launched a new assault and is suing Apple. The developer accuses the Cupertino group of "  abuse of a dominant position and anti-competitive practices  ", and believe that "  Apple imposes unreasonable and illegal restrictions to monopolize the two markets  ".

The situation is different on Google's operating system, Android, which allows developers to offer their applications through different platforms. But to go through the PlayStore, Google is keen to respect its regulations which it considers "  consistent and fair  ". A regulation that according to the Mountain View company guarantees "  the security of the store for users  ".

A similar argument has already been used in the past by the apple brand. But, Google and Apple are in the crosshairs of many regulators. Their bosses were even questioned by a parliamentary committee at the end of July.

Apple is accused of being both judge and party on the App Store, since it manages the platform and also offers its own products.

► To read also: Fortnite, the reasons for a box

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Video games
  • GAFA

On the same subject

Video games

Fortnite World Final invests New York, between passion and controversy