Epic Games CEO, Tim Sweeney, revealed on Wednesday that Apple has rejected the gaming company’s application for a developer account, a move intended to launch an app store for iPhones in Europe. Sweeney attributed Apple’s decision to retaliation over Epic’s antitrust lobbying efforts, ongoing lawsuit against Apple, and certain social media posts made by Sweeney himself, citing emails from Apple’s App Store chief Phil Schiller and the company’s lawyers.
Sweeney condemned Apple’s actions, characterizing the tech giant’s approach as “super egregious” and likening it to a “medieval feudal lord mounting the skulls of their former enemies on their castle walls.” This incident marks the first public instance of Apple denying competing app stores in Europe, potentially inviting scrutiny regarding the company’s compliance with new antitrust legislation.
The contentious relationship between Apple and Epic Games dates back to 2020 when Epic sued Apple over whether its game, Fortnite, could bypass Apple’s App Store rules and the 30% commission on game sales. While Epic’s legal battle resulted in some policy changes under California law, tensions have persisted, reflecting broader regulatory threats to Apple’s lucrative App Store sales, a significant component of its services business.
In response to Apple’s rejection of Epic’s application, an Apple spokesperson defended the decision, emphasizing Epic’s breach of contractual obligations and ongoing litigation against the company. The spokesperson reiterated Apple’s right to terminate accounts, particularly in light of Epic’s past and ongoing behavior.
Apple’s actions coincide with its efforts to comply with the Digital Markets Act, a new law in Europe aimed at fostering competition by requiring major tech companies to open their platforms to competitors. However, Apple’s proposed measures, including new fees and approval processes for third-party app stores, have drawn criticism from companies like Spotify, raising questions about Apple’s adherence to the spirit of the new EU law.
Despite Apple’s stance, Sweeney asserted that Epic intends to introduce a new app store in Europe for distributing Fortnite and other games. However, Apple’s denial of Epic’s developer account application underscores the ongoing friction between the two companies, with Sweeney expressing frustration over Apple’s demands for assurances and perceived attempts to stifle Epic’s voice.
“This is an open-ended invitation for Apple to tell us exactly what they want us to commit to, and how they want us to commit to it in order to not lock us as a competitor,” Sweeney remarked, highlighting the contentious nature of the dispute between Epic Games and Apple.
