Epic vs. Apple/Google

Update, August 18: Apple responded to Epic late Monday night, effectively telling the developer that all its problems can go away if it removes the rule-breaking alternative payment system from Fortnite.

'The problem Epic has created for itself is one that can easily be remedied if they submit an update of their app that reverts it to comply with the guidelines they agreed to and which apply to all developers,' Apple said. 'We very much want to keep the company as part of the Apple Developer Program and their apps on the Store ... We won’t make an exception for Epic because we don’t think it’s right to put their business interests ahead of the guidelines that protect our customers.'

'If the Unreal Engine can no longer support Apple platforms, the software developers that use it will be forced to use alternatives.' Epic is in a similar lawsuit against Google, which also kicked. Minimum and recommended hardware specifications and necessary software for developing with Unreal Engine. Just resolved this issue. I'm running on a Hackintosh (PC with Mac OS installed on a separate hard drive). I'm assuming you're also using a non-Apple machine (because really, who uses that garbage?). What I had to do was install the Nvidia web drivers and make the necessary changes in Clover Configurator.

Original story:
The new legal battle between game developer Epic and iPhone-maker Apple continues to heat up, as Epic says Apple will be cutting it off from the developer platform for Mac and iOS before the end of this month.

Unreal Engine 3 For Mac

Epic wrote in a court filing (PDF) that Apple said its membership in the Developer Program will be terminated as of August 28. According to Epic, Apple's move threatens not only Fortnite but also every game that uses Unreal Engine: 'By August 28, Apple will cut off Epic's access to all development tools necessary to create software for Apple's platforms—including for the Unreal Engine Epic offers to third-party developers, which Apple has never claimed violated any Apple policy,' Epic said.

'If your membership is terminated, you may no longer submit apps to the ‌App Store‌, and your apps still available for distribution will be removed,' the letter said.

According to the filing, Apple informed Epic that upon termination from the program, a lengthy list of tools and features would no longer be available to it, including software development kits (SDKs), application programming interfaces (APIs), and a host of other tools. Epic would also no longer be able to conduct 'Engineering efforts to improve hardware and software performance of Unreal Engine on Mac and iOS hardware; optimize Unreal Engine on the Mac for creative workflows, virtual sets and their CI/Build Systems; and adoption and support of ARKit features and future VR features into Unreal Engine by their XR team.'

Fortnite is currently available for Mac through Epic's own digital storefront, which does not break Apple's rules.

“The damage... will be unquantifiable and irreparable”

'This would be an existential threat to the Unreal Engine,' Epic said. 'The damage to Epic's ongoing business and to its reputation and trust with its customers will be unquantifiable and irreparable.'

Unreal Game Engine For Mac

Epic on Thursday effectively goaded Apple into pulling Fortnite from its App Store by launching a new end-run around Apple's rules for in-app purchases. Less than an hour after Fortnite was taken down, Epic filed a suit (PDF) accusing Apple of anticompetitive behavior.

'Apple has become what it once railed against: the behemoth seeking to control markets, block competition, and stifle innovation,' Epic alleged in its suit. 'Apple is bigger, more powerful, more entrenched, and more pernicious than the monopolists of yesteryear. At a market cap of nearly $2 trillion, Apple’s size and reach far exceeds that of any technology monopolist in history.'

Epic went after Apple, and now the tech giant is striking back. Epic Games revealed on Twitter that Apple is revoking Epic’s permissions to develop tools for iOS and Mac on August 28.

Not only does this prohibit updates to Fortnite on iOS, but it could impact every game that uses Epic’s Unreal Engine game creation tools. Epic has filed a motion to stop this retaliation from Apple, which you can read here.

In the legal document, Epic notes the following:

If the Unreal Engine can no longer support Apple platforms, the software developers that use it will be forced to use alternatives. The damage to Epic’s ongoing business and to its reputation and trust with its customers will be unquantifiable and irreparable. Preliminary injunctive relief is necessary to prevent Apple from crushing Epic before this case could ever get to judgment.

That’s why Epic is working fast to get the courts to stop Apple before August 28. Fortnite is a huge money maker for Epic, but so is Unreal Engine. Losing access to a gaming platform as big as iOS could be a huge blow to the company.

Epic is likely to succeed on the merits of its claims, but without an injunction, Epic will be irreparably harmed long before final judgment comes. Technology markets move swiftly. Left unchecked, Apple’s actions will irreparably damage Epic’s reputation among Fortnite users and be catastrophic for the future of the separate Unreal Engine business.

This drama started on August 13, when Epic introduced a direct payment option in the iOS and Android versions of Fortnite. This circumvents the mobile app stores, which take a 30% cut of all transactions. Apple quickly retaliated by removing Fortnite from the iOS app store. Epic responded with a lawsuit and a cartoon designed to get gamers on its side. Android would later do the same, but Epic can offer Fortnite to Android users outside of the main app store. On Apple, it’s their digital marketplace or nothing.

Update at 7:26 p.m.: An Apple spokesperson shared the following statement on Monday evening.

The App Store is designed to be a safe and trusted place for users and a great business opportunity for all developers. Epic has been one of the most successful developers on the App Store, growing into a multibillion dollar business that reaches millions of iOS customers around the world. We very much want to keep the company as part of the Apple Developer Program and their apps on the Store. The problem Epic has created for itself is one that can easily be remedied if they submit an update of their app that reverts it to comply with the guidelines they agreed to and which apply to all developers. We won’t make an exception for Epic because we don’t think it’s right to put their business interests ahead of the guidelines that protect our customers.