Fortnite Removed From Google Play Store and Apple App Store

Apple and Google removed Epic Games’ Fortnite from the App Store and Play Store for violating their guidelines after the developer started using its own direct payment system. 

Yesterday (August 13), Epic Games released a new update for its popular battle royale game Fortnite, introducing its own direct payment system that bypassed the standard 30% fee of Apple and Google.

After a very short time, Apple removed the world-famous game from its App Store for violating its in-app payments guidelines.  

Then, Epic Games announced that it has taken legal action ‘’to end Apple’s anti-competitive restrictions on mobile device marketplaces.’’ and revealed a series of responses including a video mocking Apple’s popular 1984 ad. 

Apple has blocked Fortnite from the App Store, removing everyone’s ability to install and update the game on iOS devices, while instructing Epic to “remove the ‘Epic direct payment’ feature”. Apple is keeping prices high so they can collect 30% of your payments, and is blocking Fortnite in order to prevent Epic from passing on the savings from direct payments to you! Join the fight against @AppStore on social media with #FreeFortnite. 

Fortnite Team
Source: Epic News

And here is that video which quickly went viral.

Speaking with The Verge, Apple confirmed the removal.

”Today, Epic Games took the unfortunate step of violating the App Store guidelines that are applied equally to every developer and designed to keep the store safe for our users. As a result their Fortnite app has been removed from the store. Epic enabled a feature in its app which was not reviewed or approved by Apple, and they did so with the express intent of violating the App Store guidelines regarding in-app payments that apply to every developer who sells digital goods or services. ”

and said they will ”make every effort to work with the developer in order to resolve these violations’’.

Epic has had apps on the App Store for a decade, and have benefited from the App Store ecosystem – including its tools, testing, and distribution that Apple provides to all developers. Epic agreed to the App Store terms and guidelines freely and we’re glad they’ve built such a successful business on the App Store. The fact that their business interests now lead them to push for a special arrangement does not change the fact that these guidelines create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users. We will make every effort to work with Epic to resolve these violations so they can return Fortnite to the App Store.

Then Tim Sweeney, the founder and CEO of Epic Games, shared a tweet and said they are not looking for a special deal, they’re fighting for all developers.  

Today, Apple said Epic is seeking a special deal, but that’s not true. We’re fighting for open platforms and policy changes equally benefiting all developers. And it’ll be a hell of a fight! https://t.co/R5A48InGTg

— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) August 14, 2020