Epic Games submits ‘Fortnite’ to Apple’s App Store for review

Epic Games’ Fortnite
Epic Games submitted “Fortnite” to Apple’s App Store a month after Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the Northern District of California ruled in its favor in a contempt case. Apple is appealing that judgment. The game was removed from iPhones in 2020 when Epic updated “Fortnite” to bypass Apple’s commissions by linking to its own website. Epic also filed a lawsuit against Google, which runs the Android Play Store.
Kif Leswing for CNBC:
‎

Epic Games said on Friday that it submitted Fortnite to Apple’s App Store, the month after a judge ruled in favor of the game maker in a contempt ruling.
Last month’s ruling, a victory for Epic Games, said that Apple was not allowed to charge a commission on link-outs or dictate if the links look like buttons, paving the way for Fortnite’s return.
Apple could still reject Fortnite’s submission. An Apple representative didn’t respond to a request for comment. Apple is appealing last month’s contempt ruling.
Apple takes between 15% and 30% of purchases made using its in-app payment system. Linking to the web avoids those fees. Apple briefly allowed link-outs under its system but would charge a 27% commission, before last month’s ruling.

‎
MacDailyNews Take: Don’t get used to your free ride, Epic.
District Judge. Advertising within Apple’s App Store has value, a fee for which its owner has every right to charge, regardless of what some blank-eyed judge claims.
Apple is right to appeal this travesty all the way to the United States Supreme Court, if need be.
Rodgers says that Apple will no longer be allowed to prohibit developers from providing links or other communications that direct users away from Apple in-app purchasing.
You know, because Best Buy and Target are forced by a judge’s injunction to place signs next to each product that advertise lower prices for the same items at Walmart.
Oh, wait, they aren’t forced to do that by some ditzy judge. Because it’s ludicrous, illogical, and just plan wrong.
Apple should appeal Roger’s injunction and/or if developers like Epic Games want to advertise lower prices using Apple’s App Store, Apple should simply charge an in-store advertising fee. We suggest it be 15% for developers making under $1 million per year and 30% for those making $1 million or more annually.