As expected, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney took to social media to complain about the "junk fees" he says will prevent "Fortnite" from returning to the iPhone.
Apple announced on December 17 that it is introducing support for third-party app stores and payment processors to Japanese iPhones. But if you thought that news would make Tim Sweeney happy, think again.
As a recap, Apple's announcement brings Japanese iPhones closer to the way iPhones function in the European Union. The rule changes mean that third-party app stores can be installed, while developers can also choose how they accept payments for apps and digital goods.
There are other tweaks, including the options to set a default maps app. But the support for app stores and new payment options is something that developers like Epic Games have been demanding for years.
But Sweeney has already posted his misgivings to the X social network. He argues that Apple has added "junk fees" that will make developers less likely to switch away from the App Store.
"They're imposing a new 5% junk fee on all revenue from apps distributed by competing stores, and intend to surveil all transactions within them using a mandatory reporting API," Sweeney comlained. "This is an egregious Apple imposition on distribution and payments they have no involvement with, and a practice the US courts already found to be illegal and upheld on appeal."
Malicious compliance
Ignoring the typical rant for a moment, Sweeney has a point, albeit minor. Apple took a similar approach in the United States, only to be reined in somewhat by the judge.
Ultimately. Sweeney says that Fortnite will not return to iOS in Japan in 2025 as promised because of the fees Apple will charge developers who set foot outside its App Store.
However, it's important to remember what kicked all of this off — Epic games was found to have willfully violated the terms of the App Store by doing a server-side modification to bypass Apple's App Store payments system for Fortnite on iOS. That led to the app, and Epic Games' Fortnite developer account as a whole, being kicked out of the App Store.
Apple's App Store still rules the roost
Sweeney might have a point about Apple's malicious compliance of new anti-competition rules. Opening up the iPhone to third-party payments while still demanding a cut of those payments goes against the whole point of opening the iPhone up, after all.
But it's difficult to take Sweeney's rants at face value given the way Epic Games has previously behaved. It's also vital to remember that Epic Games isn't an indie developer, nor is it fighting for those who are.
Sweeney is looking out for Epic Games rent-seeking, and only Epic Games. In the end, we're all just watching two massive companies with millionaire CEOs argue about a few percentage points here and there.
