Image: Epic GamesĮpic Games decided to pick a fight with Apple and Google on Thursday, Aug. 13, Epic fired the shot heard ’round the world: circumventing Apple’s and Google’s own billing systems. In an unsanctioned server-side update to Fortnite on iOS and Android on Aug. What’s the nature of the conflict? Why is it happening, and why now? What could it mean for the Android and iOS software marketplaces? And will you still be able to play Fortnite on your phone? Why can’t I download Fortnite from the App Store or Play Store?
It’s the latest, and most explosive, development in a long-simmering dispute between Epic and the two tech giants that, together, control the entire global market for smartphones. Epic also staked out its position with a cheeky parody of “1984,” Apple’s famous Super Bowl commercial from that year. Immediately afterward, Fortnite maker Epic Games filed separate antitrust lawsuits against the two companies. That’s because Apple and Google removed the app from their respective marketplaces on Thursday for violating their rules. 13, it’s no longer available to download on mobile platforms - not on iOS via the Apple App Store, and not on Android except outside the Google Play Store. Fortnite is one of the most popular video games on the planet, playable across computers, gaming consoles, and mobile devices.
