Microsoft just joined Epic Games’ fight against Apple, with an Xbox leader arguing that banning the ‘Fortnite’ maker would hurt gamers and video game creators (MSFT, AAPL)
AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez
- In mid August, the wildly popular game "Fortnite" got an update on Apple and Android smartphones that allowed players to bypass app store digital payment systems: Instead of going through Apple and Google, payments went directly to "Fortnite" creator Epic Games.
- Apple and Google subsequently pulled "Fortnite" from their digital storefronts and cited the update as a terms-of-service violation. Apple also booted Epic from the Apple Developer Program, a move that Epic said would force it to discontinue iOS and Mac support for its popular game development software Unreal Engine.
- Epic sued both companies, and filed for a temporary restraining order against Apple to keep it from "removing, de-listing, refusing to list or otherwise making unavailable the app 'Fortnite,' including any update thereof." The order would also enable Epic to continue supporting Unreal Engine on Apple devices.
- In a surprise twist, Microsoft is backing Epic in the ongoing legal spat. Microsoft general manager of gaming developer experiences Kevin Gammill officially submitted a letter to the court in support of Epic on Sunday.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
In the ongoing legal spat between Apple and "Fortnite" maker Epic Games, the latter just got an unexpected ally.
Microsoft general manager of gaming developer experiences Kevin Gammill officially submitted a letter to the court in support of Epic on Sunday. He wasn't writing because he's upset about "Fortnite" being pulled from the App Store, but because of the ripple effects of this particular legal battle between Apple and Epic.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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See Also:
- Read the emails Epic's CEO sent Apple execs that set up the legal battle over 'Fortnite' being yanked from the App Store
- Epic's CEO sent Apple a 2 a.m. declaration of war over 'Fortnite': 'Epic will no longer adhere to Apple's payment processing restrictions'
- 'Fortnite' players on iPhone and iPad have less than a week before the game leaves them behind