‘Fortnite’ battles Big Tech: Why Epic Games is suing Apple, Google over their App Store ‘monopolies’

In a jujitsu-like flourish showing the Fortnite fight is as much about rallying fans – and winning in the court of public opinion – Epic Games turned idealistic rhetoric used by Apple and Google against the two giants. — AFP

LOS ANGELES: Can Fortnite maker Epic Games single-handedly bust up the longstanding 30% app “tax” levied by Apple and Google – fees Epic calls “exorbitant” and the result of “unlawful monopoly”? Not everyone believes the odds are in Epic’s favour.

In a highly orchestrated campaign Thursday, Epic Games set the bait for the legal – and public relations – battle by announcing it was giving Fortnite users a 20% price break if they purchased in-app game currency directly, bypassing the two big app stores. Citing the violation of their rules, Fortnite was promptly banned from Apple’s App Store and Google Play. And that’s exactly what Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney and his team expected to happen.