Epic Games rallies Fortnite players against Apple with new tournament
Tart Tycoon outfit that gamers can win.
Epic Games
Epic Games announced this week it’s hosting a Fortnite tournament on August 23 in an effort to rally players around its battle with Apple.
During the #FreeFortnite Cup, gamers will be able to compete to win a “Free Fortnite” hat, gaming systems that still run Fortnite, and a Tart Tycoon outfit that’s widely seen as a riff on Apple CEO Tim Cook.
An Apple spokesperson was not immediately available to comment.
The two companies are fighting over Apple’s App Store’s payment system, under which Apple takes a 30% cut of revenues from in-app purchases. Epic doesn’t think that’s fair.
The battle started last week when Epic Games released a new direct payment option inside the iPhone Fortnite app. It was designed to bypass the App Store’s payment system. Apple responded by removing Fortnite from the App Store. Epic sued Apple hours later. It also launched a PR campaign to rally public support that included an in-game event parodying Apple’s famous 1984 ad.
A “Free Fortnite” hat players can win.
Epic Games
Epic Games said Monday that Apple gave it until August 28 before it removes Epic’s developer accounts. If that happens, Epic Games won’t be able to develop apps for the App Store.
“The problem Epic has created for itself is one that can easily be remedied if they submit an update of their app that reverts it to comply with the guidelines they agreed to and which apply to all developers,” Apple said on Monday. “We won’t make an exception for Epic because we don’t think it’s right to put their business interests ahead of the guidelines that protect our customers.”
The latest season of Fortnight will update August 27 for users on non-iOS devices. Apple users will, for now, be unable to play the next season.