Epic Declares War on Apple/Google...with Fortnite (VL285)
745When is a discount more than a discount? When it's a declaration of war.
Epic Games' reduction of prices on Fortnite V-Bucks in all locations (except two very specific ones), has all the makings of the company's previous attempt to bust Steam's lock on 30% platform fees through their Epic Games Store Platform.
Now, however, the company has turned its ire to the 30% collected by each of the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
There's a lot to consider here.
The war is likely to last longer than a Fortnite...in Virtual Legality.
#Epic #FreeFortnite #Apple
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Discussed in this episode:
"Fortnite Lowers V-Bucks Prices, Calls out Apple and Google's 'Exorbitant' Mobile Payment Fees"
IGN - August 13, 2020 - Jordan Oloman
https://www.ign.com/articles/fortnite-lowers-v-bucks-prices-calls-out-apple-and-googles-exorbitant-mobile-payment-fees
"ANNOUNCING EPIC DIRECT PAYMENT ON MOBILE"
Epic Games Post - August 13, 2020
https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/news/announcing-epic-direct-payment-on-mobile
"THE FORTNITE MEGA DROP - PERMANENT DISCOUNTS UP TO 20%"
Epic Games Post - August 13, 2020
https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/news/the-fortnite-mega-drop-permanent-discounts-up-to-20-percent
"FORTNITE MEGA DROP PRESS FAQ"
Epic Games Post - August 13, 2020
https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/fortnite-mega-drop-faq
"App Store Review Guidelines"
Apple Developer Post
https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/
"Apple App Store - Principles and Practices"
https://www.apple.com/ios/app-store/principles-practices/
"Google Play Developer Distribution Agreement"
Updated June 12, 2020
https://play.google.com/about/developer-distribution-agreement.html
"Service Fees"
Google Play Console Help Page
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/112622?hl=en
"When Microsoft's ambitious 'Netflix of gaming' service launches in September, it won't arrive on Apple devices – here's why"
Business Insider - August 6, 2020 - Ben Gilbert
https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-explains-why-xbox-game-pass-is-not-on-iphone-2020-8
"Apple confirms cloud gaming services like xCloud and Stadia violate App Store guidelines"
The Verge - August 6, 2020 - Nick Statt
https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/6/21357771/apple-cloud-gaming-microsoft-xcloud-google-stadia-ios-app-store-guidelines-violations
"Well, we have some good news..."
Tweet - August 7, 2020 - Facebook Gaming (@FacebookGaming)
https://twitter.com/FacebookGaming/status/1291708615015858176
"Apple has gone crazy."
Tweet - July 28, 2020 - Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic)
https://twitter.com/TimSweeneyEpic/status/1288139365399633924
"The problem is not a number, and a number isn’t the solution."
Tweet - July 31, 2020 - Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic)
https://twitter.com/TimSweeneyEpic/status/1289227550431031296
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"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law).
CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo
DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.
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Twitter: @hoeglaw
Web: hoeglaw.com
Blog: hoeglaw.wordpress.com
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