So the Epic v Apple battle is over…again. But this time it may be for good - at least until Epic boss Tim Sweeney decides to go to war with platform holders again, that is. If you don’t recall the whole story, back in 2020 Fortnite on iOS and Android was updated with a new system called ‘Epic Direct Pay’ which directed users to pay for their V-bucks—the in-game currency—directly through Epic. Apple and Google didn’t like this and pulled the plug on Fortnite, kick-starting a long-running legal battle that seems to be finally wrapping up.
Yesterday, the US Supreme Court refused to hear the current legal case between Epic and Apple, shutting the door on third-party storefronts on iOS, but upholding the decision to dissolve Apple’s anti-steering policies. Prompting Sweeney to hop onto Twitter, calling it “A sad outcome for all developers.” Still, he did boast of the fact that developers could now direct users to better prices elsewhere on the web, even for purchases used in applications on iOS. This, and the 30% fee levied on in-app purchases, has been one of Tim Sweeney’s main points of contention with many digital storefronts. However, it has been noted that Apple has managed to weasel in a 12-27% levy on links that take customers to alternate payment methods. ... [MORE]
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