By now, you’ve probably heard about the dispute between one of the biggest video games of all time and two of the largest tech companies in the world. And maybe that has you now wondering: Where does that leave me?
Yesterday, both Apple and Google removed Fortnite from their respective app stores due to recent changes in the way developer and publisher Epic Games collects in-app payments. The terms of both app stores require publishers to hand over a 30-percent cut of the money from in-app purchases. The new Fortnite app update went around this policy set by both Apple and Google, allowing gamers to pay Epic Games directly. Thus it was bye-bye for Fortnite in the App Store and Google Play store.
But, what does this mean for people who want to play Fortnite on iOS or Android right now?
Basically, if you use an iOS device, such as the iPhone, and don’t already have the Fortnite app installed, you are out of luck. There's no other official way to download and install the app on your iPhone now that it's been blocked by Apple.
If you already have the Fortnite app on your iPhone, you’re good...for now. All the current content still works and you can still launch the game. In fact, if you didn’t already download the update that got Epic Games in trouble with Apple in the first place, you can actually still download it and purchase the discounted in-game currency directly from the game maker. You can also still buy the in-game currency through Apple, which nets the company its 30-percent cut, as well. So, despite the drama, Apple continues to earn revenue from the app it just kicked out of its store.
However, everything won’t be fine for long. When the new season of Fortnite is released in a few weeks, Epic Games says it won’t be able to push an update to your iPhone. Seasons, for those who may be unfamiliar, are basically chapters in Fortnite's story which bring new features, items, and map changes to the game. You won’t be able to access this new Fortnite content on your iOS device.
If you’re an Android user, you’ve got much less to worry about. New users can still download Fortnite to their devices directly from Epic Games. And the company will still be able to push out updates to current players. This is because Google’s mobile operating system isn’t a closed platform like iOS. Perhaps a smaller game or app would lose out by being rejected from Google’s official app store since it would be harder to find. But Fortnite doesn't need to worry about that.
Regardless of what happens going forward, Fortnite will be just fine. It’s a multiplatform game with more than 350 million registered players. In 2019, the game alone racked up $1.8 billion in sales for Epic Games. That's not bad for a free game that generates revenue from in-app purchases. You can also see why Epic would want to cut Apple and Google's 30-percent cut out. The company argues that it can even permanently drop the price it charges players for V-bucks, Fortnite's in-game currency, by 20 percent that way.
Yesterday, Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Apple and Google over the app's removal. And now, some are arguing that the game's massive popularity may finally crack Apple’s walled garden open, forcing the company to relax the control it's exercised over every aspect of iOS, including third-party apps.
If you’d like to avoid the mobile transaction drama altogether, just download Fortnite for your home consoles, like the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. You can also download the game for your PC or Mac.
It seems like there are good options for nearly every Fortnite player...except the ones who use the iPhone. What happens next is anyone's guess. But, if ever there were an app or game to force change in the App Store, Fortnite may just be the one to pull it off.
