Epic Games is currently embroiled in a legal battle with Apple. It all started when Epic decided to circumvent the App Store’s policies by adding a new payment method to Fortnite that would allow users to pay Epic directly, getting rid of Apple’s fees in the process. Apple took issue with this for a number of reasons, ultimately pulling Fortnite from the App Store. Now Epic Games is rallying against Apple with the #FreeFortnite Cup that mocks the tech company.
The #FreeFortnite Cup will take place on August 23, giving players the chance to participate in exchange for Apple-themed prizes. In-game, this means Fortnite players can get their hands on an angry-looking skin with a literal apple head, but there will be some real-life prizes as well. The top 20,000 #FreeFortnite Cup players will be sent a real world hat adorned with the familiar Fortnite llama in classic Apple colors.
And finally, the top 1,200 “apple-eaters” in Fortnite will be able to win an Alienware Gaming Laptop, Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, OnePlus 8, PlayStation 4 Pro, Xbox One X, or Nintendo Switch, which will help them continue playing the game after support for iOS ends.
In its announcement of the #FreeFortnite Cup, Epic Games explains that the tournament is being held because this will be the last week Fortnite players will be able to play together across all devices. Epic says that those playing Fortnite on iOS will be trapped in Chapter 2 Season 3, whereas those on other devices will be transitioning to Chapter 2 – Season 4 beginning August 27.
This seems to be just the latest attempt by Epic Games to try to get Apple to reconsider its app store policies, but it remains to be seen which side will give in first. One has to imagine that Fortnite being off iOS devices is going to cause a significant dent in Epic’s revenue stream, but if Epic was going to circumvent iOS App Store fees anyway, then Apple doesn’t have as much incentive to host the game on its store. However, Epic is clearly trying to paint Apple as the “bad guy” in the situation and drum up negative publicity for the company, which could in turn result in public pressure to convince Apple to give in and let Fortnite return to the App Store.
In the meantime, the matter may end up being settled in court. Epic Games has filed lawsuits against both Apple and Google, and needless to say, it will be interesting to see how it all plays out in the coming weeks.
Fortnite is out now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
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