The ongoing dispute between Apple and Epic Games took a new twist today as Apple reportedly terminated Epic’s developer account. This move comes after Epic had announced that its account had been approved last month, potentially allowing Fortnite to return to iOS devices in the EU under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). However, Epic now claims that Apple’s decision to terminate its account is a “serious violation of the DMA” and shows Apple’s reluctance to allow true competition on iOS devices.
Why did Apple Ban Epic Games?
Epic Games alleges that Apple cited reasons such as Epic’s criticism of Apple’s proposed DMA rules, including a post by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney on social media. Epic has been a vocal critic of Apple, taking it to court over antitrust concerns and lobbying for regulations to curb Apple’s power in the app economy.
Apple’s termination of Epic’s account is seen as a retaliation by Epic for speaking out against Apple’s practices. Apple’s Phil Schiller mentioned in a letter that Epic’s past actions, including deliberately violating Apple’s rules, raise doubts about Epic’s intent to follow the rules in the future.
What’s Next
In response, Epic has emphasized its long-standing contractual relationship with Apple and its compliance with Apple’s rules after requesting DMA consultations. Epic also highlighted its contributions to the app economy and the number of customers it has served.
Apple, on the other hand, stated that its decision to terminate Epic’s account is based on a 2021 judgment which allows Apple to terminate agreements with Epic’s subsidiaries at its discretion. Apple also clarified that Epic Games Sweden entered into the Apple Developer Program License Agreement through a click-through agreement, without any executive review by Apple at that time.
The European Union has announced that it will investigate Apple’s decision to terminate Epic’s account, adding another layer to this ongoing saga.
