Apple Users Stuck In Fortnite’s Third Season As Lawsuit Rages On
On August 27, Chapter 2 Season 4 of Fortnite launched. While Android, PC, and console players have enjoyed the Marvel Nexus, featuring their favourite Marvel heroes and characters, Apple players have been left in the dark.
Due to the ongoing lawsuit between Apple and Epic, the Fortnite app on iOS and macOS has become unable to receive updates. This followed Fortnite's removal from the App Store, which stopped new and returning players from downloading and updating the game. Following these events, Epic Games sent out an email to its many iOS and Mac users, explaining why their Fortnite game was stuck in the past, and unable to update to the newest season.
Click to enlargeTheir email reads as follows:
"Apple is blocking Fortnite updates and new installs on the App Storeand has said they will terminate our ability to develop Fortnite for Apple devices. As a result, the Chapter 2 - Season 4 update (v14.00), did not release on iOS and macOS on August 27.
Apple limits competition so they can collect 30% of consumer payments made in apps like Fortnite, raising the prices you pay. Epic lowered prices through a direct payment option, but Apple is blocking Fortnite in order to prevent Epic from passing on the savings from direct payments to players. Epic has taken legal action to end Apple's anti-competitive restrictions on mobile device marketplaces. Papers are available for our August 13, August 17, and August 23 filings. In retaliation for this action, Apple blocked your access to Fortnite updates and new installs on all iOS devices."
What this means for players is they will be unable to participate in matches with Season 4 players until the lawsuit reaches some kind of resolution. Players are reportedly waiting in lobbies to join matches with either bots or other confused Apple players. They are also barred from trading with or receiving items from the newest season of Fortnite and are only able to trade with other Apple players that are also locked in the previous season.
As the lawsuit continues to run its course, it seems as if judges are ruling in favour of Apple, stating that Epic Games needs to "return to the status quo" and offer payments through Apple's payment system if they want Fortnite to be available on the App Store once more.
A temporary restraining order preventing Fortnite from being removed from the App Store was denied. However, a temporary restraining order barring Unreal Engine-supported games was allowed. The judge stated that she didn't want innocent bystanders to be harmed in the fight against these massive corporations, these innocent bystanders being the multitudes of game and application developers whose products are powered by Unreal Engine.
Epic Games still refuses to back down from its stance against Apple. They state that this feud is about saving customers money, instead of allowing a giant corporation to charge a "convenience" fee for the same goods and services that others receive for much less.
Click to enlargeIn a statement regarding the judge's favourable ruling, Apple had this to say:
"We thank the court for recognising that Epic's problem is entirely self-inflicted and is in their power to resolve. Our very first priority is making sure App Store users have a great experience in a safe and trusted environment, including iPhone users who play Fortnite and who are looking forward to the game's next season.
We agree with Judge Gonzalez-Rogers that 'the sensible way to proceed' is for Epic to comply with the App Store guidelines and continue to operate while the case proceeds. If Epic takes the steps the judge has recommended, we will gladly welcome Fortnite back onto iOS. We look forward to making our case to the court in September."
Considering that Epic's entire case hinges on Apple forcing its developers to comply, this statement from Apple seems almost cartoonishly evil. In fact, it looks as if it came directly from Epic's "Nineteen Eighty Fortnite" parody ad, which is chilling. Epic has responded to this statement by refusing to back down and continuing their plight against Apple.
But Apple has also fired back at Epic, with their removal of the Epic Games developer account from the App Store. Fortnite and any other Epic Games apps are nowhere to be found on the App Store. This means that Epic Games can no longer submit or review apps, and in-app purchases have been made completely obsolete. This follows through on the threat that Apple made to Epic nearly two weeks ago, when they told Epic to comply or face termination.
This is a fate that befalls many smaller applications and developers, but their problems are largely unheard of. In fact, many of these developers are forced to accept the demands in order to maintain their livelihood. Since they do not have the following that Epic Games has, they are unable to protest against the demands and must comply or face termination. The fact that Epic, such a huge multi-national corporation, is taking the stage to fight for mobile developers' rights is noble and has won them favour in the public eye, even if that favour does not extend to the courtroom.
To further promote a freer App Store, Epic Games has been sending out #FreeFortnite merchandise to top streamers, such as Ali A, whose branding parodies that of Apple's 1984 "Think Differently" campaign, much like the "Nineteen Eighty Fortnite" commercial.
To further broaden the impact of this campaign, Epic Games has released the assets for free on the Unity Developer Tools website, where users can download them to create their own merchandise. Epic has even allowed users to sell and distribute this merchandise to others.
To combat this, Apple's App Store has been promoting PUBG Mobile on its storefront and Twitter page, in an attempt to give its users an alternative to Fortnite.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney noticed this passive-aggressive move by Apple and fired back, stating that PUBG Mobile utilised Unreal Engine.
Until this legal battle reaches some kind of conclusion, Fortnite users on Apple devices are going to be stuck in the past, amongst swathes of bots. The world of Fortnite looks a lot emptier when a majority of players have moved onto the future, playing with their favourite heroes in Marvel Nexus.
Because of this inconvenience, Epic Games will be offering full refunds to players that made iOS purchases before August 28. This does not take away the fact that players are unable to participate in Season 4. Still, it is a noble thing for Epic to do, considering their customers have no access to the goods they purchased after Fortnite's removal from the App Store.
The final hearing between Apple and Epic Games will occur on September 28 over Zoom. Until then, MacOS and iOS Fortnite players will be left in the Dark Ages, stuck in Splash Down without a way out, for the foreseeable future. Epic will continue to support its users, updating the Free Fortnite page on its website as it receives updates on the court ruling. Until then, players can continue to relive the fond memories of Chapter 2 Season 3 in real-time, patiently awaiting the day that Fortnite will receive an iOS update once more.
Images via Epic Games
