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Epic’s plans to release its own third-party app store on iOS in the EU could be in trouble after Apple terminated the developer account it planned to use. In a blog post published today, the company shared a letter sent by Apple’s lawyers, which called Epic “verifiably untrustworthy” and said Apple does not believe that Epic will comply with its contractual commitments under its developer agreement.
“Please be advised that Apple has, effective immediately, terminated the Developer Program membership of Epic Games Sweden AB,” the letter — which is dated March 2nd — states. It cites Apple’s “contractual right” to terminate its Developer Program License Agreement with the company at “Apple’s sole discretion.”
While Apple’s termination of the developer account impacts Epic’s plans to launch its own app store on iOS, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney suggested in a briefing that Epic could still bring Fortnite back to iOS via another company’s third-party app store in the European Union.
The exchange came in the wake of Apple announcing plans to allow third-party app stores on iOS in the EU as a result of the bloc’s new Digital Markets Act regulation, which goes into effect this week. Epic quickly announced plans to launch a game store on iOS as a result of the changes and relaunch Fortnite on the platform following its removal in 2020. It announced it had secured a developer account for Epic Games Sweden on February 16th, reversing a ban Apple implemented alongside Fortnite’s removal.
“Please be advised that Apple has, effective immediately, terminated the Developer Program membership of Epic Games Sweden AB,” the letter — which is dated March 2nd — states. It cites Apple’s “contractual right” to terminate its Developer Program License Agreement with the company at “Apple’s sole discretion.”
While Apple’s termination of the developer account impacts Epic’s plans to launch its own app store on iOS, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney suggested in a briefing that Epic could still bring Fortnite back to iOS via another company’s third-party app store in the European Union.
The exchange came in the wake of Apple announcing plans to allow third-party app stores on iOS in the EU as a result of the bloc’s new Digital Markets Act regulation, which goes into effect this week. Epic quickly announced plans to launch a game store on iOS as a result of the changes and relaunch Fortnite on the platform following its removal in 2020. It announced it had secured a developer account for Epic Games Sweden on February 16th, reversing a ban Apple implemented alongside Fortnite’s removal.
Epic says its iOS game store plans are stalled because Apple banned its developer account
Apple’s lawyers called Epic “verifiably untrustworthy.”
www.theverge.com