Apple blocks Epic Games’ US developer account
In the early days of the legal battle between Apple and Epic Games, Apple suspended Epic Games’ developer account. As a result, all of the games company’s titles, such as Fortnite, disappeared from the App Store. The US developer account has now been blocked for almost five years. When Epic announced last week that Fortnite was coming back to the App Store in the USA, it wasn’t clear how that would work.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said over the weekend that Epic would use his Epic Games Sweden account to register Fortnite in the US App Store. Sweeney has apparently spoken to Apple about the issue, and from his wording it sounds like Apple could approve the plan. However, he did not say that he had Apple’s express consent.
After Apple was required by the Digital Markets Act to support alternative app marketplaces in the European Union, the gaming studio had created a Sweden-based account to launch the Epic Games Store. Apple initially closed the EU developer account due to Epic’s untrustworthy behavior. Apple’s statement at the time of the EU account suspension:
“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.”
Epic then claimed that Apple was violating the Digital Markets Act by blocking the creation of alternative app marketplaces in Europe. The European Union then launched an investigation against Apple. Apple eventually reinstated the account after Epic promised to comply with the alternative marketplace rules, and Apple avoided problems with EU regulators.
Epic Games’ US App Store account still blocked
Obviously, however, there is no reason for Apple to abandon the American one Reactivate Epic’s account. Apple may object to Epic’s attempt to bring Fortnite back to the App Store via the Swedish account. But given that Apple is already facing the wrath of the judge overseeing the case, the company may want to keep the ball low for now.
Sweeney had already made a peace proposal to Apple last week, claiming that Epic would bring Fortnite back to the App Store if Apple expands its “Apple tax-free” system worldwide and stops current and future legal disputes. But so far there is no indication that Apple will agree to the App Store link and payment changes outside the United States. This allows developers to include links and buttons in their apps to purchase options outside of the App Store.
Sweeney said that Epic Games is working as hard as possible to bring Fortnite back to the App Store. There is no specific date yet.
