Epic Games Seeks Court Injunction to Stop Apple Developer Account Termination
Epic Games files a legal motion to prevent Apple from cutting off its developer access, arguing the tech giant retaliates over a payment dispute. The gaming company warns that losing access to development tools threatens its widely used Unreal Engine.
Epic Games files a motion for a preliminary injunction against Apple in a California federal court to stop the termination of its developer accounts. Apple previously removed Fortnite from the App Store and notifies Epic that it will cut off access to iOS and Mac development tools by August 28. Epic accuses Apple of retaliation and asks the court to halt these actions immediately.
The legal battle stems from Epic's decision to add a direct payment option in Fortnite, which bypasses Apple's in-app purchase system and its associated fees. Anticipating Apple's response, Epic prepares a coordinated public relations campaign that includes an antitrust lawsuit and a parody of Apple's famous 1984 commercial. Apple states it simply wants to resolve the policy violations and bring Fortnite back to the App Store.
Epic expresses deep concern that Apple's retaliation extends far beyond the Fortnite app and severely damages its broader business operations. The company warns that losing access to Apple's development tools cripples the Unreal Engine, a prominent game development platform Epic licenses to third-party creators. Epic asserts that Apple never claims the Unreal Engine violates any policies, making the threatened termination an unjustified attack on its entire business.