Not long after the App Store banned Fortnite, the Google Play Store removed Fortnite from the app for violating in-app purchasing procedures.
With the battle royale commencing in the App Store before today and now the Google Play Store as well, it’s not been an extraordinary day for versatile players of the gigantically mainstream game Fortnite. The explanation for both store bans is another in-game installment framework Epic Games sneaked into Fortnite that sidesteps the Google Play Store and App Store cuts.
Though the Google Play Store rules are generally more relaxed than the App Store’s, Google has a strong stance on games giving 30% to the Play Store. Epic’s update lets players pay the company directly for in-app purchases in Fortnite, allowing Epic Games to avoid the 30% fee Apple and Google take from microtransactions. Google issued a strict statement on the banning and claimed Epic Games violated the Play Store’s “consistent policies that are fair to developers and keep the store safe for users.
The statement adds that this isn’t a permaban, and Google is interested in discussing the possibility of Fortnite’s return with Epic. Given Epic’s new #FreeFortnite ad campaign, it doesn’t seem likely that it will accept paying either Google or Apple’s fees anymore. There is still a way for Android users to download Fortnite through the Epic Games app, which only takes 12% from game devs.
Samsung users can also download Fortnite through the Samsung Galaxy Store. Apple users, however, don’t currently have a way to download Fortnite to their iPhones or iPads (unless the app is already on their device, of course). Like Google, Apple likewise says it would invite Epic back, however, wouldn’t like to make any uncommon courses of action or limits. Epic’s reaction to the App Store boycott is to sue Apple for “harsh” store terms, and it might just take a similar course with Google.
Apple is experiencing harsh criticism as of late because it obstructed Microsoft’s Project xCloud from the App Store, and a Congressional enemy of trust hearing as of late analyzed Apple just as Facebook, Amazon, and Google for potential cornering.
If Epic chooses to take on both Google and Apple, there could be a major reckoning for huge companies and whether their policies are really fair like they claim them to be. Fortnite is out now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
