Apple today terminated Epic Games Sweden’s developer account worldwide. Apple says it is due to the game developer’s “egregious breach of its contractual obligations.”
Apple shared the following statement with MacRumors:
Epic’s egregious breach of its contractual obligations to Apple led courts to determine that Apple has the right to terminate “any or all of Epic Games’ wholly owned subsidiaries, affiliates, and/or other entities under Epic Games’ control at any time and at Apple’s sole discretion.” In light of Epic’s past and ongoing behavior, Apple chose to exercise that right.
Lawyers representing Apple sent a letter to Epic saying the developer has proven to be “verifiably untrustworthy.” Apple said it cannot be assured that Epic will follow the Apple Developer Program’s terms and conditions in the future.
Epic had previously announced that it intended to use its Swedish developer account to launch an Epic Games Store on iOS in the EU. The developer said it would then use the store to bring the Fortnite app back to the iPhone. As of yesterday’s release of iOS 17.4, Apple now allows alternative app marketplaces on the iPhone in the European Union, to bring it into compliance with the EU Digital Markets Act.
Epic fired back at Apple with a press release, saying that Apple’s termination of the Swedish developer account is a “serious violation” of the Digital Markets Act, and proves that “Apple has no intention of allowing true competition on iOS devices.”
More from Epic’s response:
In terminating Epic’s developer account, Apple is taking out one of the largest potential competitors to the Apple App Store. They are undermining our ability to be a viable competitor and they are showing other developers what happens when you try to compete with Apple or are critical of their unfair practices.
Epic believes that Apple suspended its Swedish developer account in part due to Epic CEO Tim Sweeney’s public criticism of Apple’s proposed Digital Markets Act compliance plans. Epic shared a letter it received from the App Store’s chief Phil Schiller, who indeed said that Sweeney’s “colorful criticism” of Apple’s plans, as well as his company’s history of “intentionally violating contractual provisions with which it disagrees,” indicates that Epic has no intention of following the Apple Developer Program rules if reinstated.
Fortnite was removed from the iOS App Store in 2020 due to Epic introducing a direct payment option in the app for the in-game currency V-Bucks, in defiance of the App Store rules. That kicked off the Epic Games v. Apple legal feud, and Fortnite has been unavailable in the App Store since then. The game is still available on iPhones and iPads, via Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce NOW through the Safari browser.
Epic is continuing its legal battle with Apple in both Australia and the United States, so the legal battles between Apple and Epic Games will continue in the foreseeable future.