The Internet was abuzz yesterday after Epic Games baited Apple and Google into removing them from their respective app stores. This obviously followed Epic’s game plan to a tee because they had their anti-trust lawsuit against both Apple and Google ready to go.
If you recall Epic Games, when Fortnite first came to Android was only available using a sideload method from the Epic website so as for them to avoid the 30% cut that Google take from all purchases via the Play Store (or in app). Eventually they gave in and placed Fortnite on the Play Store.
Since then though Epic Games have not given up and actually had deals in place with OnePlus and LG before those companies were forced by Google to drop such plans according to Epic Games.
Epic Games originally made a version of Fortnite for specific OnePlus devices designed to deliver a “state-of-the-art” framerate but they are alleging that “Google demanded that OnePlus not implement its agreement with Epic with the limited exception of mobile devices sold in India”.
OnePlus told Epic that “Google was “particularly concerned that the Epic Games app would have the ability to potentially install and update multiple games with a silent install bypassing the Google Play Store””. In other words they alleged that Epic could perform nefarious actions on a persons device.
According to Epic OnePlus were not the only one bullied by Google with LG also being prevented from pre-installing the Epic Games app on their devices.
Epic, after this, caved and made Fortnite available on the Play Store….until yesterday when it was booted from the Play Store for violating the Play Store’s policies by allowing gamers to pay Epic directly for in-game vbucks.
Epic were ready though and it seems that both Apple and Google have played into their hands with lawsuits being filed not long after each booting from the respective app stores. They were so ready they even had a video trolling Apple ready to go:
Google declined to comment to The Verge but watch this space closely as if Epic Games win it will change the landscape around developers and their earnings forever. We have had some great discussion behind the scenes here at Ausdroid over the right and wrongs of all of this. Where do you stand?
