Fortnite has been making more headlines than usual of late thanks to a legal dispute between its publisher and Apple. The main issue between Epic Games and Apple is over the current state of app stores and the monopoly that Apple has on its devices. The situation has led to Fortnite being removed from the Apple App Store and as a result, the game is not purchasable on the phones of the manufacturer.
When Epic Games undercut the service of the App Store by offering purchases directly without giving Apple a 30% share, there was always going to be a dispute between the two industry giants. Apple severed ties with Epic Games and removed Fortnite from the App Store, and both are taking legal action against one another. Fortnite has even made a promotional video that some have claimed has weaponized fans against Apple. Amid this drama is a unique financial opportunity for iPhone owners.
Games like Flappy Bird caused eBay price wars when they were removed, as players attempted to purchase devices that had the app already and this seems to be what certain iPhone owners are hoping will happen again. Sellers are listing iPhones for up to $10,000 with the promise of having Fortnite installed. As Apple can not delete the existing app, this is one way for players to continue enjoying the game on the mobile market. However, these kinds of listings are more niche than the Flappy Bird saga and as a result, it seems that the iPhones with Fortnite installed may not sell as well or with as much profit.
Other app stores still offer Fortnite such as the Samsung Galaxy Store and with that in mind, it seems unlikely that fans would pay significantly more for an Apple phone with the application. With that said, the situation between Apple and Epic Games is becoming increasingly dramatic with Apple threatening to remove all software using the Unreal Engine tools, essentially making it useless to developers who want to tap into the Apple phone market. If this does happen then the substantial price of these phones may be justified for some dedicated fans and collectors.
This Fortnite‘s legal battle is having huge ramifications, and, unsurprisingly, entrepreneurial-minded people are attempting to make a profit from the situation. While many will see the price of these phones as ludicrous if the situation continues to escalate it may become a wider spread practice.
Fortnite is available now on mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One, and in development for Xbox Series X and PS5.
Source: eBay
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