Apple & Google's App Store monopoly, crushing potential competitors with exploitative fees

guest · Aug 13, 2020

Fortnite maker: ‘Apple has locked down and crippled’ the App Store
July 24, 2020
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/24/epi...le-crippled-app-store-with-30percent-cut.html

Privately held Epic Games is the publisher and developer of Fortnite, which is consistently one of the apps that makes the most money on mobile app stores. But because Fortnite’s in-app purchases are digital goods like character outfits, both Apple and Google take a 30% cut of the game’s revenue according to store policies.

“Apple has locked down and crippled the ecosystem by inventing an absolute monopoly on the distribution of software, on the monetization of software,” Sweeney told CNBC’s Julia Boorstin.
On iPhones, users are required to pay for digital goods through Apple’s App Store payment system. Apps that circumvent the mechanism could be removed from the App Store.
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“If every developer could accept their own payments and avoid the 30% tax by Apple and Google we could pass the savings along to all our consumers and players would get a better deal on items. And you’d have economic competition,” Sweeney said.
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guest · Aug 13, 2020

ProtonMail founder: Apple uses monopoly to “hold all of us hostage”
ProtonMail CEO argues Apple fails to meet "minimum moral responsibility."
August 3, 2020
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy...pple-uses-monopoly-to-hold-all-of-us-hostage/

The developer behind secure email service ProtonMail today came out swinging against the way Apple allegedly uses its App Store to control access to iOS users and cut out competitors. The company is all but begging regulators to take stronger action.

"Apple has become a monopoly, crushing potential competitors with exploitative fees and conducting censorship on behalf of dictators," ProtonMail founder and CEO Andy Yen wrote in a company blog post. "We know this because we have quietly tolerated this exploitation for years."
Apple, Yen claimed, is using its market power "to hold all of us [developers] hostage." Referring to the 30 percent cut Apple takes of any sales through its App Store as a "tax," he added that traditional analogies to retail space break down when it comes to software:
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"It is a fee that developers must pay if they want to stay in business. And it is a fee which ultimately harms consumers because these fees are indirectly passed on to users, either through higher prices or through fewer competing products in the marketplace."

ProtonMail is not the first to argue that Apple's 30 percent cut amounts to a tax that cuts unfairly into other firms' revenue and makes it harder to compete against Apple's first-party apps.
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guest · Aug 13, 2020

Apple boots Fortnite from the App Store after Epic adds direct payments
August 13, 2020
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/13/fortnite-app-store-removed-apple/

After its creator Epic Games implemented a workaround to duck Apple’s hefty developer fees, Fortnite has vanished from the App Store. The popular game’s disappearing act came the same day that Epic added a new direct payment option for in-game currency on mobile, offering an enticing 20% discount for players who pay the company for its virtual V-Bucks rather handing that money to intermediaries Apple or Google.

“Currently, when using Apple and Google payment options, Apple and Google collect a 30% fee, and the up to 20% price drop does not apply,” Epic wrote in a blog post introducing the new option.
In a statement to TechCrunch, Apple confirms that it removed Fortnite for taking the “unfortunate step” of violating App Store rules:
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Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney has attacked Apple repeatedly in recent tweets over the cut it takes on the App Store, calling its decisions deliberately anti-competitive and declaring that Apple has “outlawed the metaverse.”

Epic also apparently just filed a legal complaint against Apple in the U.S District Court for the Northern District of California arguing that Apple removing Fortnite is “yet another example of Apple flexing its enormous power in order to impose unreasonable restraints and unlawfully maintain its 100% monopoly over the iOS In-App Payment Processing Market.”
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ArsTechnica: Epic files suit against Apple after Fortnite pulled from iOS App Store [Updated]

Epic was not shy about its frustrations with Apple’s and Google’s 30% cut of sales
Update 4:05pm ET: In a video message premiering in Fortnite's own Party Royale mode, Epic wrote that it has "defied the App Store Monopoly. In retaliation, Apple is blocking Fortnite from a billion devices. Join the fight to stop 2020 from becoming '1984.'"
Update 3:45pm ET: Less than an hour after Fortnite was removed from the iOS App Store, Epic announced it has filed a complaint for injunctive relief with a Northern District of California federal court.
Update 3:04pm ET: Apple removed Fortnite from appearing on the iOS App Store by 2:50pm. As of 3pm, the game still remains available on Google's Play Store.
Apple in a statement described Epic's move as an "unfortunate step."
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Original Story:
In a move seemingly calculated to be both an enticement to players and a middle finger aimed directly at Apple and Google, game developer Epic today began offering a discount for Fortnite players who use Epic's own direct payment system for in-game purchases.
The "Fortnite Mega Drop" is a permanent 20-percent discount on purchases across all platforms, Epic announced today.

Epic is not shy about explaining its reasoning. "Currently, there are no savings if players use Apple and Google payment options, where Apple and Google collect an exorbitant 30% fee on all payments," the company said. "If Apple and Google lower their fees on payments, Epic will pass along the savings to players."
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guest · Aug 13, 2020

Fortnite vs. Apple: everything you need to know about Epic’s fight against mobile app stores
That escalated quickly
August 13, 2020
https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/13/21367923/fortnite-apple-app-store-epic-games-need-to-know

When Epic Games released an updated version of Fortnite, one that circumvented the payment options in Apple’s App Store and Google Play, it created a battle between two huge companies. It didn’t take long for Apple to remove the game from its store, and Epic fired back immediately with an animated short that parodies Apple’s iconic “1984” commercial and a lawsuit soon after.
You can keep up with all of the latest developments in Epic’s conflict with mobile app stores right here.
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hawki · Aug 13, 2020

"Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite"

Epic parody of 1984 Apple commercial by Epic Games after the ban of their Fortnite game by Apple:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euiSHuaw6Q4

Side-by-side comparison with original Apple 1984 commercial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99FxagCl6TU

hawki · Aug 13, 2020

"Epic Games' Lawsuit Fires a Shot at Apple's App Store 'Monopoly

Fortnite creator Epic Games launched a spear at Apple’s gatekept iOS App Store market today with a lawsuit filed in the US District Court of Northern California...

Alleging that Apple’s grip over the iOS market is 'unreasonable and unlawful,' Epic Games seeks to force access to more apps and payment processing options on iOS..."

https://www.wired.com/story/epic-games-sues-apple-fortnite-app-store/

"Spotify supports Epic Games' private antitrust action against Apple

Music streaming service Spotify on Thursday threw support behind Epic Games after the Fortnite developer leveled a lawsuit against Apple over allegedly monopolistic App Store regulations.

Spotify, which lodged its own antitrust complaint against Apple in 2019, welcomed Epic as an ally in a long-running fight over App Store fees..."

https://appleinsider.com/articles/2...-games-private-antitrust-action-against-apple

zapjb · Aug 13, 2020

Proud to say I've never owned an crapple product. Google & M$ not so much. LOL. There is no freedom.

guest · Aug 13, 2020

Fortnite for Android just got axed from the Google Play Store too
August 14, 2020
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/13/fortnite-android-google-kicked-out/

After Epic Games picked a fight with Apple over the sizable chunk of fees the company takes on transactions in its mobile ecosystem, it looks like the Fortnite developer will be waging a war on two fronts.

In a statement, Google defended the decision to remove Fortnite for breaking its platform rules:

[...] While Fortnite remains available on Android, we can no longer make it available on Play because it violates our policies. However, we welcome the opportunity to continue our discussions with Epic and bring Fortnite back to Google Play.
While Epic’s legal filing and in-game spoof of Apple’s iconic 1984 commercial make for a flashy fight, it’s not Epic’s first tangle over the mobile version of Fortnite.
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The Verge: Fortnite for Android has also been kicked off the Google Play Store

You can still install it directly from Epic, however
Following its removal from the Apple App Store, Fortnite has also been kicked off of the Google Play Store for Android. Earlier today, Epic Games snuck in an update for both the iPhone and Android versions of the game that allowed users to pay Epic directly for in-app purchases instead of using the officially sanctioned system for both platforms.
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guest · Aug 13, 2020

mood said: ↑

Fortnite for Android just got axed from the Google Play Store too August 14, 2020
The Verge: Fortnite for Android has also been kicked off the Google Play Store
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Epic is suing Google over Fortnite’s removal from the Google Play Store
Just like Apple
August 13, 2020
https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/13/...awsuit-antitrust-app-play-store-apple-removal

Epic Games has filed suit against Google over alleged antitrust violations, just hours after seeing Fortnite dropped from the both the Google Play Store and iOS App store and filing a similar lawsuit against Apple. Epic’s complaint alleges that Google’s payment restrictions on the Play Store constitute a monopoly, and thus a violation of both the Sherman Act and California’s Cartwright Act.

“Notwithstanding its promises to make Android devices open to competition, Google has erected contractual and technological barriers that foreclose competing ways of distributing apps to Android users, ensuring that the Google Play Store accounts for nearly all the downloads of apps from app stores on Android devices.”
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Alec · Aug 13, 2020

Oh, and I am supposed to feel bad for Epic Games and their crappy Fortnite microtransaction gaming model?

Sorry... not sorry... microtransactions have ruined probably 75+% of the gaming industry. At least Apple has always provided good value for the money spent. And @zapjb that's fine... it's called "to each their own."

Fortnite Has Made $1 Billion From Microtransactions On Mobile Alone
By James O'Connor on May 14, 2020 at 7:26PM PDT
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fortnite-has-made-1-billion-from-microtransactions/1100-6477307/

Fortnite continues to be a huge success for Epic Games, and new figures show that it has done extraordinarily well on mobile. According to Sensor Tower, two years after launch, Fortnite on mobile has now made a total of $1 billion in revenue.

This figure does not take into account how well the game has done on PC or consoles, so the game's total revenue would be much higher.
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Fortnite Microtransactions Are A Total Rip Off Designed To Take Advantage Of Consumers While Offering Little Value
Adam Llewellyn July 18, 2018
https://thelootgaming.com/fortnite-...age-of-consumers-while-offering-little-value/

Student Loan company LendEdu conducted a survey that revealed that average Fortnite player was spending a whopping $84.67. For 36.78% of those surveyed, this was the first time they had ever spent money on micro transactions. Another fun tidbit is that 35.12% of players said they had skipped school in order to play Fortnite. 14.58% even admitting to skipping a lot of school. Maybe parents should be concerned?

Different conversation for a different day but an interesting one! The final fact is that 58.9% of players who have spent money in game have purchased cosmetics. This means that the majority of people are spending out with the Battle Pass which unlocks seasonal rewards. Check out Game Rant for all the details on the survey.
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Mum blasts ‘addictive’ Fortnite game after kids accidentally spent HUNDREDS of pounds on virtual money
Saqib Shah 30 Apr 2018, 16:45Updated: 3 May 2018, 16:36
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/6176661/fortnite-kids-spend-hundreds-v-bucks/

A MOTHER has slammed Fortnite as "addictive" after her 10-year-old son was duped into spending money on the game.

The woman, who (per her request) is referred to here as Diana for the sake of hiding her identity, said her son was told he could use a "hack to get free stuff", but ended running up a £52 bill instead.

Her case isn't a one-off either: dozens of worried parents have taken to online forums to seek help in the wake of their child mistakenly spending cash on the game.
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I'm just getting started...

guest · Aug 14, 2020

Facebook joins Fortnite in blasting Apple “App Store tax”
August 14, 2020
https://www.slashgear.com/facebook-joins-fortnite-in-blasting-apple-app-store-tax-14633542/

Facebook has joined Fortnite developer Epic Games in criticizing Apple over its App Store payments cut, calling out the iPhone-maker as it launches a new events service. Small businesses and creators will be able to use Facebook for paid online events without coughing up any fees, the social network says, that is unless their customers are doing so via an Apple device.

“Many businesses are struggling and every cent matters,” Fidji Simo Vice President, Head of Facebook App, explains in a blog post. “Shifting in-person events to online is costly enough that businesses shouldn’t have to worry about fees charged by platforms.”
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“Unfortunately, they dismissed both our requests and SMBs will only be paid 70% of their hard-earned revenue. While Facebook is waiving fees for paid online events we will make other fees clear in the product.”
On iOS devices, such as in the Facebook for iPhone app, there’ll be an explanation under the payment button stating that “Apple takes 30% of this purchase.”
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guest · Aug 14, 2020

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney says Apple fight is about ‘basic freedoms of all consumers and developers’
Sweeney says the explosive feud with Apple is not solely about money
August 14, 2020
https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/14/...ortnite-lawsuit-ban-basic-freedoms-developers

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has issued a series of public comments on his personal Twitter account regarding the legal fight the Fortnite creator initiated with Apple yesterday, following the iPhone maker’s removal of the game from the App Store. In the four-part thread, Sweeney says the fight isn’t about money. Rather, he says Epic is fighting for “the basic freedoms of all consumers and developers.”

“At the most basic level, we’re fighting for the freedom of people who bought smartphones to install apps from sources of their choosing, the freedom for creators of apps to distribute them as they choose, and the freedom of both groups to do business directly,” Sweeney tweeted.
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guest · Aug 14, 2020

Apple earned $360 million from Fortnite before pulling the plug
Google, meanwhile, has earned $10 million from the Play Store version of the shooter
August 14, 2020
https://www.androidauthority.com/apple-fortnite-ios-revenue-1148204/

You knew Apple was giving up a big source of revenue when it pulled Fortnite from the App Store in its pricing row with Epic Games. However, it’s now clearer just how much the tech giant stands to lose.

Business Insider has obtained SensorTower estimates indicating that Apple has made roughly $360 million in revenue from Fortnite since the battle royale shooter reached iOS. Players have spent about $1.2 billion in total on passes and V-Bucks in the otherwise free-to-play game, and people have downloaded it 133.2 million times.
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Google’s revenue was considerably smaller before it removed Fortnite from the Play Store. That’s not surprising, though, since Fortnite only launched on the store in April 2020.

Apple and Google aren’t making the decisions to pull the game lightly, in other words. Their 30% cut each gave them a lot of money, and they stand to lose a lot if they don’t reach a deal. They’ll make considerably less if they lower their share to please Epic, however.
This simultaneously illustrates the size of Epic’s gamble. While it can still count on revenue from non-Play Store Android downloads, computer users, and console gamers, it’s still risking a significant amount of income by giving up many of its mobile sales.
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guest · Aug 17, 2020

Epic Games asks judge to block Apple's removal of 'Fortnite' from app store
August 17, 2020
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...oval-of-fortnite-from-app-store-idUSKCN25D2DD

Epic Games said on Monday it was seeking to block Apple Inc’s removal of “Fortnite” from its app store and has asked a judge to prevent any retaliatory action against its other games in the store.

The videogame maker also said Apple will terminate all of Epic Games’ developer accounts and cut it off from its development tools starting Aug. 28.
In its filing, Epic alleged that if Apple cuts off its access to Apple’s developers, it will be unable to keep offering the Unreal Engine for Mac and iPhone operating systems, which would in turn affect hundreds of game titles.

“The effects will reverberate well beyond video games; it will affect developers who use the Unreal Engine on Apple products in many fields,” Epic said in its filing asking the court to issue an order blocking Apple’s move.
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hawki · Aug 17, 2020

"Apple cuts off Epic from its tools, endangering future Unreal Engine projects on iOS and Mac

Epic Games, locked in a legal battle with Apple and Google over developer payments, now says Apple is threatening to cut the company off from developer accounts and iOS and Mac development tools. This decision, expected to go into effect Aug. 28, might have widespread effects on App Store development.

This goes beyond “Fortnite,” the Epic Games title that was the catalyst for the legal fight. Epic Games is also the creator of Unreal Engine, which has not only become an industry standard for creating video games, but as well as film, commercial business and TV shows like “The Mandalorian” on Disney+..."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/vide...business-1_appleepic-510pm:homepage/story-ans

stapp · Aug 18, 2020

People are already selling iPhones with Fortnite installed for huge sums.

https://www.imore.com/people-are-already-selling-iphones-fortnite-installed-huge-sums

guest · Aug 19, 2020

Apple Retains Gibson Dunn Lawyers From Samsung Case to Combat Epic Games
August 19, 2020
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/08/19/gibson-dunn-lawyers-to-combat-epic-games/

Apple will use lawyers from Gibson Dunn, the same firm that spearheaded the second Apple v. Samsung action, in its bid to fend off a private antitrust suit leveled by Epic Games, according to software patent and litigation expert Florian Mueller at FOSS Patents.
The firm has represented Apple in high-profile litigation cases in the past, such as the second Apple v. Samsung case.

"The court is almost certainly going to ask why Epic can't just live and comply with the same app developer agreement it had been honoring for years, gladly making a billion-dollar amount, while this litigation is ongoing," Mueller speculated.
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The first Epic Games v. Apple encounter in court is scheduled to take place on Monday in the form of a Zoom videoconference. Epic Games now faces the threat of its Apple Developer Program account being terminated on August 28 unless it resolves violations of Apple's Developer Program License Agreement.
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guest · Aug 20, 2020

Korean developers want Apple & Google investigated over in-app purchase cost
August 19, 2020
https://appleinsider.com/articles/2...google-investigated-over-in-app-purchase-cost

A consortium of Korean companies are petitioning the Korean Communications Commission, saying that Apple and Google's App Store in-app purchase rules are illegal.

According to The Korea Herald, an alliance of local startup developers called the Korea Startup Forum, object both to how much Apple and Google charge, and to the absence of any alternatives.

"While the 30 percent commission rate is too high in itself," Consortium president Choi Sung-jin said, "it is more problematic that they force a specific payment system for the app markets."
The group's president added that this is particularly unfair on small companies because larger firms may allegedly have the ability to negotiate their commission rates.
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The current dispute between both of these companies and Fortnite developer Epic also involves in-app purchases. Apple separately defended its App Store polices at an antitrust hearing, and also supported research that favorably compared it to other digital marketplaces.
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guest · Aug 20, 2020

Android developer class action suit targets Play Store and its 30% transaction fee
The suit needs approval from federal court
August 20, 2020
https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/...argets-play-store-and-its-30-transaction-fee/

Epic Games is waging legal war against Apple and Google for what it calls the exorbitant 30% revenue share those companies make on every app and in-app purchase.
Now, though, one law firm is attempting to round up the aggrieved with proposed class-action litigation against Google.

Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, a Seattle-based practice which specializes in class actions, has filed a complaint with federal district court in San Jose against Google for establishing an effective Android app store monopoly — discouraging and making it difficult to sideload app stores without obfuscation measures such as alarming Google Play Protect prompts — and, within it, putting in the anti-competitive practices such as the 30% split and a product pricing minimum of 99 cents.
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Unlike the Epic lawsuit, Hagens Berman is seeking monetary damages.
Developers can sign up to become part of the class with this form, but a judge will have to greenlight this charge before things start to really roll. You can read the full complaint here.
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guest · Aug 21, 2020

Media companies ask Apple to reduce app store fee
August 21, 2020
https://www.livemint.com/technology...e-to-reduce-app-store-fee-11597996376340.html

Apple's App store fee for all in-app purchases, which many developers feel is too high, has now got leading media publishers seeking a cut in the charges to 15% from the customary 30%.

In an open letter to Tim Cook, CEO Apple, Digital Content Next (DCN), a trade organisation which represents over 75 news and media companies such as New York Times, Washington Post and CBS, have asked Apple to clearly define the conditions that can make a developer eligible for a lower App Store fee of 15% which currently applies on Amazon apps.
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Apple’s policy requires apps to use its App store payment system for subscriptions and then charges 30% fees on it. Developers who have tried to bypass it by offering subscriptions through their website and not the App store have been delisted.
Several companies and developers including Spotify and Epic Games have challenged the 30% store fee as it cuts into their revenue and reduces the possibility of offering more attractive subscription plans to consumers.

Epic Games on its part has filed two separate lawsuits against both Apple and Google in US courts, while arguing that the fees charged by them are exorbitant and result in an unlawful monopoly that Apple and Google enjoy.
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hawki · Aug 21, 2020

"iPhones with Fortnite installed on them are being listed for as much as $15,000 on eBay..."

https://dotesports.com/fortnite/new...are-being-listed-for-as-much-as-15000-on-ebay

https://dotesports.com/fortnite/new...are-being-listed-for-as-much-as-15000-on-ebay

guest · Aug 21, 2020

WordPress claims Apple cut off updates to its completely free app because it wants 30 percent
August 21, 2020
https://www.reportdoor.com/wordpres...pletely-free-app-because-it-wants-30-percent/

WordPress, the iOS app, lets you build and manage a website right from your iPhone or iPad.
Separately, WordPress.com also happens to sell domain names.

Now, WordPress founding developer Matt Mullenweg is accusing Apple of cutting off the ability to update that app — until or unless he adds in-app purchases so the most valuable company in the world can extract its 30 percent cut of the money.

Heads up on why @WordPressiOS updates have been absent… we were locked by App Store. To be able to ship updates and bug fixes again we had to commit to support in-app purchases for .com plans. I know why this is problematic, open to suggestions. Allow others IAP? New name?
— Matt Mullenweg (@photomatt) August 21, 2020
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Here’s the thing: the WordPress app on iOS doesn’t sell anything. I just checked, and so did Stratechery’s Ben Thompson. The app simply lets you make a website for free.

Is Apple seriously asking for WordPress owner Automattic to share a cut of all its domain name revenue? How would it even know which customers used the app? Or was this all a mistake? Apple, Automattic, and Mullenweg didn’t immediately reply to requests for comment.
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Mistake or no, it’s just the latest example of Apple’s fervent attempts to guard its cash cow resulting in a decision that doesn’t make much sense and doesn’t live up to Apple’s ethos (real or imagined) of putting the customer experience ahead of all else.

Update, 4:38 PM ET: We’re now seeing on iOS that the app was updated 20 hours ago, and asking WordPress what that means; whether it’s future updates that were cut off, or previous ones.
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guest · Aug 21, 2020

Apple fires back in court, says Epic Games CEO asked for special treatment
Apple responded to Epic Games’ lawsuit accusing it of anticompetitive behavior in its control of the App Store in a legal filing on Friday
August 21, 2020
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/21/apple-says-epic-games-ceo-wanted-a-side-deal-for-fortnite.html

Apple responded to Epic Games’ lawsuit accusing it of anticompetitive behavior in how it controls the App Store, telling the court that the Fortnite maker violated Apple’s rules and shouldn’t be placed back into the store temporarily while the legal battle rages.

In its filing, Apple alleges that Epic Games asked for an individual arrangement with Apple, producing three emails from Epic CEO Tim Sweeney that bolster its claim.
This is Apple’s first significant legal response to Epic Games after the dispute between the two companies spilled into the courts. It comes the week after Epic Games released a direct payment mechanism inside Fortnite designed to bypass the App Store’s payment system, from which Apple takes a 30% cut.
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Special deal?
Sweeney said earlier this month that Epic is not seeking a “special deal” with Apple that other iOS app makers don’t get.
But in Friday’s filing, Apple disputed that point.

Apple said Sweeney was asking permission for Epic to bypass in-app purchases and allow Fortnite players to pay it directly, as well as permission to launch a third-party app store for iPhones.
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“In the wake of its own voluntary actions, Epic now seeks emergency relief. But the ‘emergency’ is entirely of Epic’s own making,” Apple’s lawyers said in the filing.
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guest · Aug 21, 2020

Read the emails between Epic and Apple that led to Fortnite’s App Store ban
A behind-the-scenes look at how the Fortnite legal battle took shape
August 21, 2020
https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/21/21396313/apple-fortnite-lawsuit-emails-app-store-ban-epic

It’s been just over a week since Fortnite developer Epic Games initiated an unprecedented antitrust legal fight with Apple over its App Store rules, and the lawsuit is shedding new light on how the companies came into conflict.

Today, Apple entered into evidence a series of emails from Epic CEO Tim Sweeney, asking asked top Apple executives to exempt Fortnite from its standard 30 percent cut and to allow Epic to offer its own mobile app store.
Beginning in June, the emails show extensive discussions between Sweeney and Apple before Epic took action to incorporate an alternate payment mechanism into the Fortnite app [...]
The emails show Sweeney lobbying Apple for the power to include this option months in advance.
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Read the full back-and-forth between Apple and Epic below:
Email exhibits from Epic v. Apple by Russell Brandom on Scribd
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guest · Aug 21, 2020

Caught between Epic, Apple and Google, indie devs watch and wait
Epic's legal action isn't about small developers, but it will affect them
August 21, 2020
https://www.engadget.com/epic-apple-google-indie-developers-app-store-210830045.html

"Let them fight.”
Rami Ismail, co-founder of Ridiculous Fishing studio Vlambeer, is not interested in joining any lawsuits on behalf of Epic Games, Apple, Google or any other billion- or trillion-dollar business.

“In the end, it's likely mostly one or multiple of the giant multi-million and billion and trillion corporations will win big,” Ismail said. “The question is how much ‘collateral’ damage is done to the small developers on the way.”
After baiting Apple and Google into removing Fortnite from their mobile storefronts this month, Epic separately sued both companies, accusing them of anticompetitive practices. The case against Apple is particularly prominent, as it has a history of blocking third-party payment systems from operating on iOS and enforcing austere revenue-sharing rules on the App Store -- unless you’re Amazon, that is.
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“Apple and Google have an iron grasp on almost everything related to the mobile app ecosystem, including distribution and sales,” Ismail said.
In summary, Apple is vulnerable. Well, as vulnerable as a company valued at $2 trillion can be.

“If small developers see any benefit, it'll be a lower revenue share paid to another corporation, and it will probably come at the expense of selling your game inside someone else's app,” Ismail said.
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The best conclusion to Epic’s legal action, according to Ismail, would involve Apple and Google lowering the 30 percent revenue split for all apps, and unilaterally allowing third-party payment systems on their mobile stores.
“That outcome is pretty far up the ‘make-believe world where everything is flowers and sunshine’ scale though,” Ismail said.

“The most likely outcome is that Epic and the platforms come to a final agreement that allows companies to create in-app stores that sell applications, and that Apple and Google will set stringent requirements on what is required in terms of payment and data infrastructure for those in-app stores.”
Essentially, Epic might get Amazon’s App Store deal after all. The same can’t necessarily be said for indie developers.
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