Microsoft Files A Statement To Support Fortnite-Maker Epic Games In Apple Fight

Global tech company Microsoft has announced that it filed a statement to support Fortnite-maker Epic Games’ request to keep access to Apple’s developer tools for its Unreal Engine. 

On August 13, Epic Games-owned popular battle royale game Fortnite removed from the App Store and Google Play Store, just after the developer introduced its new payment system bypassing the %30 commission that Apple and Google charge for in-app purchases. 

Epic Games revealed a series of responses including a video mocking Apple’s 1984 ad and announced the FreeFortnite Cup with anti Apple prizes. 

Epic has also sued Google and taken legal action against ‘’Apple’s anti-competitive restrictions.’’ Some of the major news publishers including the New York Times and Bloomberg joined Epic Games in asking Apple to take lower commissions. 

On August 17, Epic announced that Apple will terminate all of their developer accounts and the termination includes Unreal Engine which allows third-party developers to create 3D graphics for games, VR, films and more. 

‘’Apple’s actions will irreparably damage Epic’s reputation among Fortnite users and be catastrophic for the future of the separate Unreal Engine business. If the Unreal Engine can no longer support Apple platforms, the software developers that use it will be forced to use alternatives.’’

And on August 23, Microsoft announced that it filed a statement ”in support of Epic’s request to keep access to the Apple SDK for its Unreal Engine.”

Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, shared a tweet and said ‘’Ensuring that Epic has access to the latest Apple technology is the right thing for gamer developers & gamers’’.

Today we filed a statement in support of Epic’s request to keep access to the Apple SDK for its Unreal Engine. Ensuring that Epic has access to the latest Apple technology is the right thing for gamer developers & gamers https://t.co/72bLdDkvUx

— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 23, 2020