The legal drama continues between the creators of Fortnite and Apple, with just three weeks to go before the next hearing. The apple brand supported a new motion, explaining that Epic Games had breached the contract improperly. Apple believes it should be awarded monetary damages — the amounts of which haven't yet been disclosed.
Epic Games and Apple entered open war on August 13 after Epic set up its own payment system in Fortnite, bypassing the shop usually taxed 30% by the technology company. It then withdrew the battle royale from its App Store in retaliation.
Apple also provides various information on the profits generated by each of the protagonists. In all, Epic Games would have earned no less than $600 million from the distribution of its applications and games on the App Store. Apple would have earned $300 million over the same period.
The war between the two firms isn't about to end, and both parties say they're ready to continue for as long as it takes. September will perhaps be rich in surprises, as it includes some important legal deadlines. On September 15, Apple will have to provide a response to Epic's injunction. On the 18th, it will be Epic's turn to speak. Then, on September 28, a second full hearing will be held.
On August 24, in an initial verdict in this case, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers had stalled by ordering Apple to restore access to Unreal Engine for developers working on devices stamped Apple.The court considers that the disagreement between the two companies shouldn't harm the other players in the video game ecosystem, i.e. the development studios that use the Unreal Engine via Apple devices.
Original content by Romain "Zorg" Becquelin.
Without cutting its ties with Unreal Engine, Apple struck another blow to Epic Games which will no longer be able to publish new applications or updates of any kind on the App Store.
