Epic Games appears to out Apple VR development in Fortnite dispute

Epic Games appears to have outed Apple development on virtual reality platforms as part of its dispute with the iPhone maker.

The game studio recently implemented a direct payment system in an apparent attempt to bait Apple into removing Fortnite from the App Store. Apple did, and in response Epic filed a prepared lawsuit accompanying social media campaign.

On Monday, Epic Games said that Apple was threatening further action — including cutting off access to its developer accounts and tools. Epic also published a letter from Apple that appeared to contain a reference to VR systems.

As a result of having its developer accounts terminated, Apple said that Epic Games would lose access to "adoption and support of ARKit features and future VR features into Unreal Engine by their XR team," among other capabilities.

Apple's ARKit is a development framework developers can use to create augmented reality apps for iPhones. But Apple doesn't currently have any sort of public-facing VR products or features.

AR refers to augmented reality systems that overlay digital elements on top of a real-world environment, while VR is generally a completely virtualized environment typically used for gaming.

The Cupertino company is largely expected to debut an AR headset that acts as an accessory to an iPhone, perhaps under the "Apple Glass" moniker. But there have not been as many rumors pointing toward an Apple VR-type product.

There are signs that Apple is developing some type of VR system, however. A recently published patent application suggests that Apple is working on a VR headset that wouldn't be transparent like "Apple Glass." In May, the company acquired VR video streaming startup NextVR.

While the promise of an Apple VR solution is tantalizing, it's possible that the "VR features" mentioned in Apple's letter could simply refer to existing partnerships with third-party VR firms like HTC Vive Pro.

29 Comments

jeroenhmg 18 comments · 18 Years

About 4 years ago

Seriously though, there are no winners in this.

Just brain-dumping:
Apple platforms could lose all (future) Unreal-based games, Epic seems tantrum-angry enough to just amputate an arm and ignore the bleeding.
...then again, Unreal-engine is not really going away since engine users/customers can still keep building for Apple platforms using the source.
Epic games could lose distribution channels outside of just Apple on this journey.
Epic could lose engine customers on mobile platforms, they are not the only engine provider, a very good one but not the only one.

Here is what the various industry players offer as revenue split (some anecdotally):

Store			Rev. Cut
------------------------------------------------
Twitch			50%
Apple App Store		30%
Google Play Store	30%
Valve Steam		30%, 25% $10mil+, 20% $50mil+
Amazon App Store	30% 
Sony 			30% (*)
Microsoft		30% (*)
Nintendo		30% (*)
Epic Games Store	12%
Discord Store		10%

Most players play Fortnite on consoles, so where is Epic's ire at Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft for their console online stores? Don't they all just take the same cut as Apple? Surely they have similar rules with payment methods?

------------------
Note:
(*) from arstechnica article: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/08/as-epic-attacks-apple-and-google-it-ignores-the-same-problems-on-consoles/

thinkman@chartermi.net 173 comments · 18 Years

About 4 years ago

Epic is trying hard to villainize Apple, and regardless of who's right in this dispute, Epic's tactics are making themselves look more and more like the bad guy.

tele1234 76 comments · 8 Years

About 4 years ago

jeroenhmg said:

Apple platforms could lose all (future) Unreal-based games, Epic seems tantrum-angry enough to just amputate an arm and ignore the bleeding.
...then again, Unreal-engine is not really going away since engine users/customers can still keep building for Apple platforms using the source.
Epic games could lose distribution channels outside of just Apple on this journey.
Epic could lose engine customers on mobile platforms, they are not the only engine provider, a very good one but not the only one.

It's not just a matter of being 'a very good one', it's a matter of it's the most powerful by a country mile, with easily portability between platforms using familiar languages for software developers. The runners-up don't even come close. Legions of indie game developers for iOS right now would be both (a) out of a job or (b) forced to undergo retraining to keep their jobs, should their companies want to stay on iOS. True, any good developer should be able to transition between platforms with relative ease but it's not an overnight process. It can take months, or even years, to perfect the talent. To use a different example, an airline can't just replace all its Boeing with Airbus - they'd need all new pilots.

Asking developers to abandon Unreal would be as silly as asking end users to abandon iOS. It's not going to happen. True, there was a time when no one thought that the rail companies would disappear, or US Steel would be broken up, or AT&T would have competition, or Microsoft would face scrutiny - the world is a history of monopolies and giants. iOS is one in the mobile platform undeniably, and likewise Unreal is in the gaming world. Some of Apple's biggest games marketing for Apple Arcade are powered by Unreal, and that is something Apple doesn't want to forfit.

SpamSandwich 32917 comments · 19 Years

About 4 years ago

Apple has many options available to them. Epic has nothing that will replace lost iOS revenue. A billion potential platforms for their software? Epic should fire their CEO.