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Another week in the app space passes and another chapter in the App store saga has opened as multiple companies have a bone to pick with the fee structure that is imposed to do business across Apple’s ecosystem. Previously, I talked about multiple game publishers including Epic Games and others taking an issue with the massive cut on micro transactions that continue to line Apple’s pockets. Complaints from other services such as Spotify takes things a little further as an apparent monopoly is going on. Apple is thought to not play by their own rules and are then able to offer superior priced products that give them the competitive edge over other services. If you don’t like it, get out. That’s the apparent stance that Apple are enforcing as recent events have seen popular game Fortnite axed from the App store. 

Removal comes after Epic Games launched a campaign to entice their customers to purchase in game currency, V-bucks, at a heavily discounted price if paying by the third-party gateway that was implemented into the app. This effectively side steps apple, giving both publisher and customer a better rate where money can be saved. One cannot escape the Apple tax however, and removal was swift to say the least. Some say that the move comes as a pre meditated action which has now triggered a lawsuit from Epic against Apple. Official statements from the company under the “FortniteGame” twitter account details the legal papers that were served as a result of their removal. It further iterates the unfair nature of Apple’s monopoly and pushes for the courts to enforce a fair and competitive market to all developers. Google were also quick to remove the game from the Play Store and they’ve been served papers. 

Now with eyes on this situation, one might say it will all blow over eventually but social media giant, Facebook have joined the sentiment. As a considerable figure in tech and media space, this statement that pushes back against the Apple tax even during this difficult time where businesses are struggling with COVID-19. Online events and other paid features are planned to go ahead in the Facebook app but Apple will not stand and help, it’s more likely the tax will remain and a ‘better’ alternative might come in the future. Security is an important part of Apple’s ecosystem but their slice of the pie is making it increasingly difficult for smaller developers and customers to flourish. One might say it’s suffocating the space and it may be time for Facebook or another capable company to begin rolling out their own ecosystems that do things a little fairer. 

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https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/14/21369169/facebook-paid-live-events-ios-android-apple-app-store-fees-fortnite-epic