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It’s possible Epic are baiting the app stores, betting that the current anti-trust questions around Apple and Google support a change. Either Apple and Google c

It’s possible Epic are baiting the app stores, betting that the current anti-trust questions around Apple and Google support a change. Either Apple and Google capitulate to this move by Epic, and Epic wins. Or Google and/or Apple come after Epic, creating a public scene that emphasizes their monopoly-like behavior, and failed lawsuits or government action mean a win for Epic. The third option—the big guys come after Epic, Epic enjoys no support and simply lose—is relatively unlikely right now. So perhaps Epic is forcing the issue, seeing an opportunity for their own gain in the midst of societal gain.

actuator 6y ago
Edit: It seems like Play Store has a category restriction on Games without exceptions. Google doesn't force payments to go through its channels based on some conditions. A lot of app developers including Apple makes use of this. So it might just survive on Play Store.
- jsnell 6y ago
  Games and most apps must use Play's in-app purchases as the payment method: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9858738?hl=en&ref_topic=9857752 https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answ...
  - actuator 6y ago
    Ah, didn't know that. I thought they could make the argument of Fortnite being cross platform but it seems Game as a category is disallowed.
  - dageshi 6y ago
    Yes, but you can sideload on android and in fact that's just what Epic did with fortnite on android. Google at the very least can point to that, Apple cannot.
  - fomine3 6y ago
    IIRC some games in Google Play supports to apply "item code" to get item, but same game in AppStore doesn't support.
sedatk 6y ago
That's exactly what happened as Epic has filed a lawsuit immediately after Apple banned them today.
thatguy0900 6y ago
Google at least can argue that if you don't like their rules, you're free to distribute the app yourself. Whether that will convince lawmakers who knows.
- pests 6y ago
  Which Epic has already done. They have their own Epic Store that instructs you on how to sideload the apps, etc. They got shit on for this by Google for doing a run around and by users for security implications.

actuator 6y ago

Edit: It seems like Play Store has a category restriction on Games without exceptions. Google doesn't force payments to go through its channels based on some conditions. A lot of app developers including Apple makes use of this. So it might just survive on Play Store.

jsnell 6y ago
Games and most apps must use Play's in-app purchases as the payment method: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9858738?hl=en&ref_topic=9857752 https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answ...
- actuator 6y ago
  Ah, didn't know that. I thought they could make the argument of Fortnite being cross platform but it seems Game as a category is disallowed.
- dageshi 6y ago
  Yes, but you can sideload on android and in fact that's just what Epic did with fortnite on android. Google at the very least can point to that, Apple cannot.
- fomine3 6y ago
  IIRC some games in Google Play supports to apply "item code" to get item, but same game in AppStore doesn't support.

sedatk 6y ago

That's exactly what happened as Epic has filed a lawsuit immediately after Apple banned them today.

thatguy0900 6y ago

Google at least can argue that if you don't like their rules, you're free to distribute the app yourself. Whether that will convince lawmakers who knows.

pests 6y ago
Which Epic has already done. They have their own Epic Store that instructs you on how to sideload the apps, etc. They got shit on for this by Google for doing a run around and by users for security implications.