Discussion

• @markgurman Mark Gurman on x

  Apple says it has terminated Epic's App Store developer account and they'll no longer be able to submit new apps or updates. https://twitter.com/...

• @timsweeneyepic Tim Sweeney on x

  @9to5mac Apple's statement isn't forthright. They chose to terminate Epic's account; they didn't *have* to. Apple suggests we spammed the App Store review process. That's not so. Epic submitted three Fortnite builds: two bug-fix updates, and the Season 4 update with this note. ht…

• @johnvoorhees John Voorhees on x

  You missed your chance. Epic is off the App Store now. Also, this fight has gotten very petty. Today's featured app? PUBG https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @timsweeneyepic Tim Sweeney on x

  While waiting for Apple to #FreeFortnite on iOS and Mac, here's another awesome battle royale game powered by Unreal Engine! https://twitter.com/...

• @reneritchie Rene Ritchie on x

  Spitball: Remove the Mega Drop, re-upload, let everyone enjoy playing Fortnite, keep suing Apple with IAP held in escrow so Epic/Tencent & Apple/Google can happily resolve their differences amongst themselves without collatoral damage to innocent players? https://twitter.com/...

• @jon_prosser Jon Prosser on x

  This is actually perfect. When Epic sees how much they actually needed Apple's platform, they'll realize why the 30% was more than fair. 🤷🏼‍♂ ️

• @jon_prosser Jon Prosser on x

  Epic Games: We don't like our 70% cut! Apple: How about a nothing% cut? https://twitter.com/...

• @eurogamer @eurogamer on x

  Epic Games snuck in one final iPhone Fortnite update... to add Apple's evil Tart Tycoon https://www.eurogamer.net/...

• @judgejudyslayer BigJJOverlord on x

  Epic epically screwed up that partnership all to save people a little bit of money. I wonder how much they're going to lose in revenue from Mobile players? https://twitter.com/...

• @chrismaddern Chris Maddern on x

  Note: Epic has two accounts. One for Fortnight. One for Unreal Engine. Only the Fortnight account was closed. https://9to5mac.com/...

• @stevekovach Steve Kovach on x

  @reneritchie Nope. Epic wants players mad.

• @hoeglaw Richard Hoeg on x

  Things are heating up! Apple has cut off one of its most prolific (and profitable) developer partners. Epic Games has been terminated from iOS. “Apple's Had Enough - Terminates Epic Games iOS Account (VL300)” #VirtualLegality VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/... https://twitter.com…

• @reneritchie Rene Ritchie on x

  I choose to believe Epic wouldn't deliberately hurt players just to keep internet attention on a business goal like clawing back more skin and emote profits. That would be an incredible violation of player trust and platform responsibility. https://twitter.com/...

• @matthewstoller Matt Stoller on x

  Apple banned Epic Games from the App store and promoted its competitor. Nope, Apple's not a monopoly engaged in retaliation at all, nothing to see here, no restraints of trade. https://9to5mac.com/...

• @freezydorito Laura Calabazas on x

  the apple stuff to me is interesting bc it feels like a boiling point for a lot of convos we have been having over the value of open decentralized systems vs benevolent dictator type systems in tech - this is the first time a benevolent dictator goes this blatantly off script htt…

• @starfire2258 Sean Hollister on x

  Apple confirmed it to us. It's gone. We checked; you can't re-download Fortnite anymore... or the Infinity Blade games, for that matter. Apple's full statement here: https://twitter.com/...

• @nickstatt Nick Statt on x

  Apple confirms it terminated Epic's App Store dev account associated with Fortnite. The game can't be downloaded anymore, even if you installed it and removed once in the past. Epic is also no longer able to submit new apps or updates through its account. https://www.theverge.com…

• @markgurman Mark Gurman on x

  Interesting stats from Sensor Tower: Epic's titles have been downloaded from the App Store 159 million times since Jan. 2012 = $1.2 billion in spend, $360 million to Apple. https://www.bloomberg.com/...

• @shiraovide Shira Ovide on x

  Oh now it's real. Kiddos' apps are going to break. https://twitter.com/...

• @paultassi Paul Tassi on x

  I do not think the timing of this season where heroes (and some villains) team up to defeat the all-powerful Galactus was an accident https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @backlon Dieter Bohn on x

  I wonder if protest app submissions, where developers submit apps they know are against the rules they think are unfaiur in order to get rejected and publicize those rules, will become a thing. https://www.theverge.com/...

• @horwitz Jeremy Horwitz on x

  The implication from Apple's statement is that Epic “repeatedly” attempted to get Fortnite back onto the iOS App Store, and Apple shut the new “updates designed to violate the guidelines” down. A very interesting wrinkle if Epic didn't walk away, and Apple kept pushing back. http…

• @stroughtonsmith Steve Troughton-Smith on x

  Just another reminder that no matter how big a developer you are, no matter how many users you have, no matter how long you've been on the App Store, or however many WWDC keynotes you've been on stage for, Apple can wipe you out in an instant — that's why it needs to be regulated

• @rsgnl Joe Rossignol on x

  Apple says Epic has directed user frustration toward AppleCare, creating support and refund quality issues for users globally

• @starfire2258 Sean Hollister on x

  Shame about the Infinity Blade games. It was weird when Epic just up and removed them back in 2018... now I can't play a couple games I paid for years ago. https://www.theverge.com/...

• @9to5mac @9to5mac on x

  Update: Apple issues statement after terminating Epic's App Store account https://9to5mac.com/... https://twitter.com/...

• @stroughtonsmith Steve Troughton-Smith on x

  With the removal of Epic's developer account, you can no longer redownload Fortnite on iOS https://twitter.com/...

• @inafried Ina Fried on x

  As expected Apple has yanked Epic's developer access, meaning not only Fortnite but other Epic-made games are out of the App Store. But, per a judge's restraining order Epic's Unreal game engine retains access and is still fully available to developers. https://9to5mac.com/...

• @9to5mac @9to5mac on x

  Apple has now terminated Epic's App Store account following legal dispute between the two companies https://9to5mac.com/... by @filipeesposito

• @eringriffith Erin Griffith on x

  @vladsavov @saji overwhelming their customer support systems to the point where the entire thing is breaking down? but yr right, this is a better example of the trolling https://twitter.com/...

• @vladsavov Vlad Savov on x

  @eringriffith @saji Apple makes enough from the App Store to beef up its customer support operations and it seems logical to me that Epic would point disappointed players there. As to the in-game addition, 100% trolling, aye!

• @themostafasaad Mostafa Saad on x

  Epic Games thinks they're big protestors or something. They're not. Epic is just a mosquito, that Apple may squash sooner or later. https://twitter.com/...

• @stormgarelli Storm Garelli on x

  @Techmeme @robotodd That's yet more irreparable damage that Apple can lodge with the court. Epic are idiotic jerks.

• @brianroemmele Brian Roemmele on x

  Like all wars, no one will truly win this one. There may be one that is seen as victorious, in the end everyone will lose. This war has many elements, one that is missed it's a generational war being conducted in the backdrop of 2020. The lawyers on both sides don't get it. https…

• @vyyyper @vyyyper on x

  Now THIS is where having total control becomes a nightmare for Apple! Since Apple handles all the billing....they have to handle the fallout from this! Yikes! https://twitter.com/...

• @annemariebridy Annemarie Bridy on x

  These two need to just grow up and litigate their case. https://twitter.com/...

• @bitvoicefm @bitvoicefm on x

  I'll take your money and you can't tell anyone about it, sounds like ‘robbing’. https://twitter.com/...

• @tha_rami Rami Ismail on x

  So just watching Facebook and Apple and all these different corporations fighting, I'm just wondering what the protocol is if the enemy of my enemy is also my enemy?

• @karaswisher Kara Swisher on x

  Pot meet kettle https://twitter.com/...

• @shortformernie Ernie Smith on x

  If Facebook is going to look sympathetic for any reason, this is it.

• @stephaniemlee Stephanie M. Lee on x

  in which one alleged monopoly takes issue with another alleged monopoly. @PranavDixit and @RMac18 are on fire today: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ...

• @b_fung Brian Fung on x

  When political leaders feel vulnerable, they try to redirect attention to perceived external threats. Hard to guess what's going on in Zuckerberg's head, but I wouldn't be surprised if a version of that is playing out right now. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ...

• @blader Siqi Chen on x

  Apple: we deserve 30% of your virtual class revenue during COVID because we're great for users. Also Apple: actually telling your users we take 30% of their revenue is both “irrelevant” AND unacceptable. https://twitter.com/...

• @benedictevans Benedict Evans on x

  But either way, for Zuck to complain that Apple built a secure, trusted system with structural barriers against abuse seems to show a slight, well, lack of situational awareness.

• @benedictevans Benedict Evans on x

  Every problem that Facebook has had in the last five years comes from building a social platform the way Microsoft was building software in the 90s - building it to be open, without thinking ‘what would an asshole do with this?’ Apple built iOS exactly the opposite

• @film_girl Christina Warren on x

  Even if Facebook was completely correct and even if the company wasn't blatantly hypocritical, it's hard to imagine them having the upper-hand in the battle of public opinion https://www.techmeme.com/...

• @benedictevans Benedict Evans on x

  There was some really really direct parallels between the problems that Facebook has around malicious, toxic behaviour and apple's decision to build a trusted, sandboxed platform with strong structural barriers to malicious, toxic behaviour. https://twitter.com/...

• @angeljimenez ngel Jimnez de Luis on x

  Tired: Epic vs. Apple Wired: Facebook vs. Apple https://twitter.com/...

• @mattnavarra Matt Navarra on x

  “[Apple has] this unique stranglehold as a gatekeeper on what gets on phones,” Zuckerberg to more than 50,000 employees via webcast today (video now public) https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ...

• @juhani Juhani Polkko on x

  Facebook tried to build this monopoly 10 years ago, and it failed. What does an American company ought to do next? Sue the bastards, of course! https://twitter.com/...

• @panzer Matthew Panzarino on x

  Zuck still sore about facebook phone https://twitter.com/...

• @ericflo Eric Florenzano on x

  Ironic considering what they're doing to block innovation, block competition, and charge monopoly rent in VR. The truth is, they're not mad at Apple, they're envious. https://twitter.com/...

• @kevinroose Kevin Roose on x

  spiderman_pointing.gif https://twitter.com/...

• @richlightshed Rich Greenfield on x

  Monopoly rents? Aren't those “rents” the same as Google Play, XBOX, PlayStation, Nintendo, etc? https://twitter.com/...

• @rmac18 @rmac18 on x

  To be clearer here: Zuckerberg said he didn't think TikTok came up in the White House dinner discussion with Trump. A FB spokesperson previously said that Zuckerberg had no recollection of discussing TikTok. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/ ...

• @pranavdixit @pranavdixit on x

  Scoop with @RMac18 who is a machine. Zuckerberg dissed Apple in front of 50,000 FB employees and said it “blocks innovation, blocks competition” and charges “monopoly rents” on the App Store. He also said that Trump brought up China at the October dinner. https://www.buzzfeednews…

• @sandofsky Ben Sandofsky on x

  Sometimes Facebook forgets it runs the Oculus Store. https://twitter.com/...

• @tha_rami Rami Ismail on x

  I really didn't think we needed a more morally grey sequel to “Epic versus Apple” but OK. https://www.theverge.com/...

• @mattlynley Matthew Lynley on x

  TBH if anything this shows how opportunistic Facebook is. They could have done this years ago but were clearly not interested/too scared of being the first to do so. https://twitter.com/...

• @robertmclaws Robert McLaws on x

  Apple is just hell bent of getting itself fucked by Uncle Sam. Not sure what the purpose is at this point but they are fighting a losing battle. https://twitter.com/...

• @bdkjones Bryan Jones on x

  @tim_cook @pschiller You know you're on the wrong side when you have to hide the truth from users. If you're not embarrassed about stealing 30% from event hosts, why force Facebook to hide that from them? https://www.theverge.com/...

• @i0n1c Stefan Esser on x

  As I said we were also told that we are not allowed to tell users what features we had to remove from our app due to Apple's pressure. This will only end once government recognise AppStores as monopolies they are. https://twitter.com/...

• @model3owners @model3owners on x

  The antisocial network is upset that iOS 14, due out next month, will require apps to ask users for permission before Facebook grabs data from their phones.🤣🤣 https://www.theregister.com/ ...

• @basche42 Ben Basche on x

  Apple should start telling iOS users what Facebook is up to https://twitter.com/...

• @firt Maximiliano Firtman on x

  Apple gets 30% of digital goods including, cooking classes you can take on Facebook app from individuals. FB put a sign highlighting Apple was taking 30%; Apple rejected: “the update violated an App Store rule that doesn't let developers show “irrelevant” information to users.” h…

• @nabeel Nabeel Hyatt on x

  You have one guess on what Facebook charged developers like Zynga on their own app store. 🙄 https://twitter.com/...

• @maxwinebach Max Weinbach on x

  But seriously, why can't they mention Apple taking a 30% cut? If Apple doesn't want people knowing about it, don't take it. If you need to take it, let companies actually tell people about it. It's just such a stupid move.

• @ia @ia on x

  Now wait until Apple discovers the 100s of Billions in app payments in the so called free apps. Those that sell digital goods, like Instagram, where Apple doesn't get their 30% share. Yep, the top ten apps use the same tools and platform as small devs... https://www.theverge.com/…

• @geoffreyfowler Geoffrey A. Fowler on x

  It's hard to be sympathetic to Facebook losing some of its ability to spy on iPhones. But FB does make an interesting point: When Apple says it's protecting our privacy, is it also a power move? Regulators are watching: https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...

• @benbajarin Ben Bajarin on x

  If every retailer disclosed the percentage they take of the goods you purchased this 30% wouldn't look so bad. https://twitter.com/...

• @latentexistence Ella on x

  Apple doesn't allow apps to mention that Apple gets a 30% cut of all in-app purchases https://www.theverge.com/...

• @sierra_offline @sierra_offline on x

  Is there a term for the sublime fascination one feels watching multibillion dollar companies play hide-the-nut with one another https://www.theverge.com/...

• @mdudas Mike Dudas on x

  Apple rejects Facebook app update that included message to users alerting them that Apple skims 30% off the purchase of tickets to online events, including things like cooking classes hosted by out-of-work chefs https://www.theverge.com/...

• @hanyrizk_ Hany Rizk on x

  This can not be an isolated event. First the drama with @EpicGames & @FortniteGame, and now with Facebook... worth observing Apple's moves right now https://twitter.com/...

• @tomwarren Tom Warren on x

  Facebook really going after Apple. Almost as if iOS 14 and beyond is about to kill their ad tracking businesses 🤔 https://twitter.com/...

• @webreflection Andrea Giammarchi on x

  I don't follow this Apple 30% tax issue ... if you're selling digital content, go PWA and publish an App to bring you to such PWA if store discoverability is the issue? ... or maybe that's banned too? All I know is that PWA is the answer, like it or not. https://www.theverge.com/…

• @shortformernie Ernie Smith on x

  Idea: Facebook should pull an Epic Games right now. The moment is ripe. https://www.theverge.com/...

• @11rcombs @11rcombs on x

  at this point apple is just shouting “REGULATE ME, DADDY” from the rooftops https://www.theverge.com/...

• @thekenyeung Ken Yeung on x

  So Apple and Google are dictating what content developers can have in their apps? “Facebook said that Apple cited an App Store rule that bars developers from showing ‘irrelevant’ information to users.” https://www.reuters.com/...

• @joeytweeets Joey on x

  @zerohedge They make the devices. They own the hardware and software IP. The entire “smile” curve belongs to Apple. They're fine.

• @zerohedge @zerohedge on x

  Apple service revenue starting to look shaky: Apple Rejected Facebook's Attempt to Tell Users About Fees: Rtrs

• @hoofnagle Chris Hoofnagle on x

  WSJ: “Facebook fears many users will reject tracking, if given the choice, affecting not only its business but also any app that uses its services to sell ads, from game-makers to news publishers...” https://www.wsj.com/...?