Microsoft Throws Support Behind Epic Games In Apple Lawsuit

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Microsoft has joined the discourse regarding Epic Games' ongoing legal battle with Apple, throwing its support behind Epic Games and the Unreal Engine.

Kevin Gammill, the general manager of gaming developer experiences for Microsoft, filed a statement expressing the company's support for Epic Games' temporary restraining order request against Apple.

In the filing, Microsoft explained the significance of Unreal Engine being available on Apple devices, as it is an extremely popular game engine and Microsoft's own Forza Street makes use of it.

Should Apple not provide Epic Games access to its development kit, Unreal Engine would likely cease support for Apple products and large numbers of companies and creators would be left out. Any projects started on Unreal Engine would have to switch to something else or restart completely, should they not be outright canceled because of the additional costs.

"If Unreal Engine cannot support games for iOS or macOS, Microsoft would be required to choose between abandoning its customers and potential customers on the iOS and macOS platforms or choosing a different game engine when preparing new games," the filing said.

Additionally, with so many games already on these platforms running on Unreal Engine, ceasing support would lead to them lacking future bug fixes and security updates, the filing argues.

Epic's latest request for a restraining order against Apple aims to force the company to, at least temporarily, put Fortnite back on the App Store with its direct payment system letting players circumvent Apple's own payment system--and the 30% cut Apple receives on transactions. It seems like the battle is only just beginning, and Epic Games' Free Fortnite campaign and tournament are certainly aiming to get the public on its side. Google Play has similarly removed the game from its own store, but it is not the exclusive application store for Android.

Posted: Aug 25, 2020 10:55 am
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-throws-support-behind-epic-games-in-appl/1100-6481293/

Comments

ifconfigPosted: Fri. Aug 28, 2020

MushroomElm
BWA Apple will hopefully lose this ongoing dispute between Epic. I am glad to see Microsoft has added their input.

I don't really care for Fortnite or Apple, but I think Apple is in the right. They signed a contract saying they wouldn't do alternate payment methods because Apple charges them 30% no matter who it is. Fortnite going around that so that they pay absolutely nothing to use their servers and service is scummy and how they try to justify it is beyond reason.

The way Microsoft talks about this makes it seem like Unreal Engine can't be used on any game, ever, on iOS games when this suit is just about one specific game that cheated the contract they signed. It wouldn't stop a random company from using Unreal Engine to make their game and upload it, with the same contract. At least, that's how it's been laid out so far.

TL;DR Microsoft and Unreal are in the wrong. Unreal signed a contract and broke it, they should follow it as it was binding.

Edit: It's just like Unreal Engine charging royalties. Any company, that uses their engine, who makes 1Mil amount in gross income is required to pay up 5% of anything after that amount. Should people be allowed to just not pay, simply because they don't like that? No, they agreed to it and it's binding.

For sure Apple is in the right. No debate.

MushroomElmPosted: Wed. Aug 26, 2020

BWA Apple will hopefully lose this ongoing dispute between Epic. I am glad to see Microsoft has added their input.

I don't really care for Fortnite or Apple, but I think Apple is in the right. They signed a contract saying they wouldn't do alternate payment methods because Apple charges them 30% no matter who it is. Fortnite going around that so that they pay absolutely nothing to use their servers and service is scummy and how they try to justify it is beyond reason.

The way Microsoft talks about this makes it seem like Unreal Engine can't be used on any game, ever, on iOS games when this suit is just about one specific game that cheated the contract they signed. It wouldn't stop a random company from using Unreal Engine to make their game and upload it, with the same contract. At least, that's how it's been laid out so far.

TL;DR Microsoft and Unreal are in the wrong. Unreal signed a contract and broke it, they should follow it as it was binding.

Edit: It's just like Unreal Engine charging royalties. Any company, that uses their engine, who makes 1Mil amount in gross income is required to pay up 5% of anything after that amount. Should people be allowed to just not pay, simply because they don't like that? No, they agreed to it and it's binding.

Scootah95Posted: Tue. Aug 25, 2020

Apple will hopefully lose this ongoing dispute between Epic. I am glad to see Microsoft has added their input.