https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/07/report-apple-approves-epic-games-store-on-ios-in-europe/
It's been a whirlwind journey of stops and starts, but AppleInsider reports the Epic Game Store for iOS in the European Union has passed Apple's notarization process.
This paves the way for Epic CEO Tim Sweeney to realize his long-stated goal of launching an alternative game store on Apple's closed platform—at least in Europe.
[...] Apple's new policies allow for alternative app marketplaces but with some big caveats regarding the deal that app developers agree to. We discussed it in some detail earlier this year.
[...] Even after the shift, Apple is said to have rejected the Epic Games Store app twice. The rejections were over specific rules about the copy and shape of buttons within the app, though not about its primary function.
[...] After those rejections, Epic took to X to accuse Apple of rejecting the app in a way that was "arbitrary, obstructive, and in violation of the DMA." Epic claimed it followed Apple's suggested design conventions for the buttons and noted that the copy matched language it has been using in its store on other platforms for a long time.
Not long after, Apple went ahead and approved the app despite the disagreement over the copy and button designs. However, AppleInsider reported that Apple will still require Epic to change the copy and buttons later. Epic disputed that on X, and Sweeney offered his own take:
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Google has spent the last few years waging a losing battle against Epic Games, which accused the Android maker of illegally stifling competition in mobile apps.
[...]
Late last month, Google was forced to make the first round of mandated changes to the Play Store to comply with the court's ruling. It grudgingly began allowing developers to direct users to alternative payment options and app downloads outside of Google's ecosystem.
[...]
These changes were only mandated for three years and in the United States. The new agreement includes a different vision for third-party stores on Android—one that Google finds more palatable and that still gives Epic what it wants. If approved, the settlement will lower Google's standard fee for developers. There will also be new support in Android for third-party app stores that will reduce the friction of leaving the Google bubble. Under the terms of the settlement, Google will support these changes through at least June 2032.Google's Android chief, Sameer Samat, and Epic CEO Tim Sweeny announced the deal late on November 4. Sweeny calls it an "awesome proposal" that "genuinely doubles down on Android's original vision as an open platform."
[...]
The changes detailed in the settlement are not as wide-ranging as Judge Donato's original order but still mark a shift toward openness. Third-party app stores are getting a boost, developers will enjoy lower fees, and Google won't drag the process out for years. The parties claim in their joint motion that the agreement does not seek to undo the jury verdict or sidestep the court's previous order. Rather, it aims to reinforce the court's intent while eliminating potential delays in realigning the app market.Google and Epic are going to court on Thursday to ask Judge Donato to approve the settlement, and Google could put the billing changes into practice by late this year.
Previously on SoylentNews:
After Two Rejections, Apple Approves Epic Games Store App for iOS - 20240716
Epic's Proposed Google Reforms to End Android App Market Monopoly - 20240414
"You a—Holes": Court Docs Reveal Epic CEO's Anger at Steam's 30% Fees - 20240316
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Mykl on Wednesday July 17 2024, @06:54AM (2 children)
It seems that Tim Sweeney is a huge gambler and investing in Epic Games is like heading to casino and putting it all on black.
- Develop hit game (Fortnite) based on another popular game (PUBG). Enjoy huge success
- Get shitty with the distributor cut on platforms and launch own platform. Sink millions into trying unsuccessfully to compete with Steam in the PC games market
- Continue to make wads of cash from the Golden Goose (Fortnite) by selling skins and cosmetics to kids
- Deliberately provoke a platform ban on Apple's App Store by violating their rules in order to trigger a lawsuit
- Get kicked off iOS altogether and lose that entire player base
- Score some wins, some losses in court
- Try to get back onto the platform that you've been fighting with in the hope that you can re-capture all of the players that you lost about 2 years ago
- Argue about the shape of buttons in your app rather than just make the change, thus setting up uncertainty in the market whether they should purchase Fortnite on iOS
- ???
- Profit!
The lawsuit could've gone either way. Epic Store on PC was always doomed to fail when faced with Steam. What are the chances that users will flock back to iOS after such a long break? Huge gambles all the way.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by ikanreed on Wednesday July 17 2024, @12:22PM (1 child)
Ah one thing. Fortnite wasn't originally "based on" pubg. The battle royal mode was originally supposed to be a secondary feature to a terrible game about defending your base from waves of zombies. Epic didn't know what they had unleashed with it.
(Score: 2) by Mykl on Wednesday July 17 2024, @10:56PM
I had forgotten that.
As I remember now, the PUBG creator got really upset with Epic for 'blatantly copying' PUBG while conveniently forgetting that PUBG itself was built on top of ARMA3 (as a mod). While PUBG certainly had unique gameplay elements brought in, it was far from an entirely original piece of work.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by looorg on Wednesday July 17 2024, @11:14AM (2 children)
Is there a big market for the Epic Game store on IOS? Do they have a lot of apps/games that run on IOS or MacOS? Clearly they think its enough to have a fit and fight about it. But still it seems like it would be weird. I thought the Apple users liked they walled garden setup run by big Daddy Apple. Without all the strange horrible things from beyond the core.
It seems somewhat petty to squabble about the size and design of buttons. But apparently this is what things have become. Still if they had wanted it why not just comply with Apples design ideas and get it over with. Or perhaps there was more to it and this is just the weird little spat they chose to share with us in regard to as what it was all about, which I doubt. That Epic Game store have their design specs and others have allowed their buttons to look and layout someway on other platforms should not matter at all. Their platform, their rules? Like it or be on another platform, or naturally lawsuits are the answers ...
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Wednesday July 17 2024, @04:18PM (1 child)
Personally, I'm somewhat on the side of Epic Games in this fight. Apple, Google, etc. are entirely too heavy handed with what I can install onto the device I bought. Apple has always been that way, with Google at least allowing sideloading of apps (I'm not sure if it's always been a thing on Android or not.), but at least there's a workaround on Android. Though, I guess Apple has to allow sideloading at least in the EU. I mean it would be such a horrible thing, if they allowed sideloading no matter where you live!
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 3, Interesting) by vux984 on Wednesday July 17 2024, @07:40PM
I'm entirely on the side of Epic games -- in this fight --; as I despise Apples walled garden. And want to see the platform opened up to other options.
I don't much care for Epic as a company, and don't use their store myself but I'd like to see them win this one.
GoG and Steam are the two stores I use on PC. I've used both the microsoft store and the macos store incidentally although i don't think i've ever purchased anything through either store ever except to upgrade Windows Home to Pro on the odd laptop.
On Android, not only could you always sideload apps, but other app stores are allowed.
I happen to be using a Samsung. It came with Google's Play store and Samsung's app store. So two app stores out of the box.
Plus I've installed:
Steam App which includes the store and allows you to buy Steam games (for PC).
F-Droid (which is an "app store" that exclusively carries open source apps). ("app store" in quotes, because its FOSS so its more "app distribution" than "app store")
I used to use the "Humble Android App" - but it was shutdown a few years ago.