Fortnite-maker Epic Games is considering legal proceedings against Google after getting removed from the Google Play app store, hours after doing the same thing with Apple.
Apple and Google also pulled the popular title from their digital stores after Epic Games bypassed their billing processes to protect them from destroying their revenue. All companies take regular 30 percent of sales from their app stores. Google said it operates an “open” program and will try to get Fortnite back on the official app store.
App stores other than Google Play are available on Android phones, so it’s still possible to install Fortnite from Epic Games’ launcher app and the Samsung Galaxy app store, making it less restrictive than the Apple system.
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Why did this happen?
Fortnite’s new update gave all fans a 20 % discount on their in-game currency V-bucks-but only if they billed Epic Games directly rather than use Apple or Google’s payment schemes.
This violation of the laws enforced by both stores.
On Thursday, Apple removed Fortnite from its App Store, leaving new players with no means of installing the game.
Epic Games had evidently predicted that to happen, immediately posting a video that ridiculed Apple ‘s iconic 1984-themed tv commercial about battling the police state. They released the papers of the court almost instantly.
Hours later, the app had vanished from the Google Play store too.
Compared to the high-profile advertising blitz that Apple had prepared to ridicule and mobilize support, Epic was silent about Google. Officially, Fortnite just posted that the game is not accessible on Google Play and that “more information will be forthcoming soon”.
What Does Epic Demand?
Epic Games claims it needs to shift mobile app stores to be fair for all. Both Apple and Google’s court documents state that they do not seek compensation or a more favorable deal on their own. A consumer-rights-focused movement using the social networking term #freefortnite was introduced.
Nevertheless, any improvement in the 30 % discount by Apple and Google will significantly support Epic Games. During a news release, the firm claimed it had received digital sales totaling more than $1.6 billion (£1.2 billion)-excluding transactions from Apple and Google Play.
Games analyst Piers Harding-Rolls from Ampere told BBC that the business produced tens of millions of dollars per month on mobile devices, for example, Apple’s iOS.
This is all we’ve got for now. Come back for more updates on this case!
