In the latest twist of the Epic vs Apple saga, it appears that Apple may soon be compelled to eliminate its 30% commission on transactions made through alternative payment methods outside the App Store. This significant development stems from the ongoing legal battle initiated by Epic Games' CEO, Tim Sweeney, who sparked controversy by allowing Fortnite players to make in-app purchases directly from Epic, bypassing Apple's payment system and offering substantial discounts.
The ramifications of this ruling are far-reaching. Previously, Apple had to comply with similar regulations in the European Union, but the US courts had been more favorable towards Apple. Now, however, the tech giant faces a decisive loss in the original Epic vs Apple case. Under the new ruling, Apple is prohibited from imposing fees on purchases made outside their app ecosystem, restricting developers' ability to place or format links, limiting the use of 'calls to action' such as banners that highlight potential savings, excluding specific apps or developers, or using 'scare screens' to deter users from making external purchases. Instead, Apple must employ 'neutral messaging' to inform users when they are navigating to a third-party site.
Although Epic Games may have lost some skirmishes along the way, this ruling positions them as the overall victor in their battle against Apple's restrictive policies. Apple has announced plans to appeal the decision, but overturning such a ruling seems unlikely given the current judicial stance.
With the Epic Games Store for mobile already established on Android and iOS in the EU, and on Android in the US, the significance of the iOS App Store could diminish as alternative payment options become more accessible and appealing to developers and consumers alike.
