In the ongoing saga of Epic vs. Apple, Tim Sweeney, the illustrious leader of Epic Games, has once again donned his armor and is charging into battle against the tech behemoth. This time, the battle cry is that Fortnite has yet to grace the iOS platform in Japan, and according to Sweeney, good ol’ Apple is the villain of this tale.
Apple’s Jolly Announcement and Epic’s Disappointment
This week, Apple decided it was time for a makeover to comply with Japan’s Mobile Software Competition Act, a piece of legislation that gleefully demands that Apple open its doors to third-party app marketplaces and even allow external payments. Apple’s announcement declared that starting with iOS version 26.2, developers in Japan can now… drumroll, please… distribute apps on alternative marketplaces, process app payments outside of their beloved In-App Purchase system, and much more—like bingo night on a Saturday!
However, the excitement was short-lived. Sweeney, with a flair for the dramatic, proclaims that Fortnite will not, in fact, be returning to iOS in Japan by the end of the year as initially promised. Instead, he claims Apple has pulled a fast one, implementing things in a “dishonest” manner. Surprise, surprise!
Fees, Many Fees, and More Fees
What’s a good story without a little bit of drama over fees? Sweeney has pinpointed Apple for slapping a “junk fee” of 21% on third-party in-app payments and a lovely 15% for those who dare to make purchases on the web. Great deals, huh? And let’s not forget the cherry on top: a “5% junk fee”—because who doesn’t love extra fees—on all revenue from apps distributed by competing stores. This all goes hand-in-hand with a mandatory reporting API, as if computing taxes couldn’t get any more thrilling.
Obstruction and Consumer Protection Rants
But that’s not all! The Epic overlord took the opportunity to challenge those “anticompetitive” warning screens that Apple displays, which warn users that any external purchase is, gasp, managed by the developer and not Apple. Oh, the betrayal!
Sweeney swiftly lit up X (formerly known as Twitter, but let’s not dwell on the past) with an emotional appeal. “Sadly, Fortnite will not return to iOS in Japan in 2025 as promised,” he declared, channeling a Shakespearean level of drama. “This is yet another travesty of obstruction and lawbreaking in gross disrespect to the government and people of Japan.” And the crowd gasps!
A Long-Running Showdown
Returning to the theme of this high-stakes slapstick, this is merely another act in the ongoing Epic vs. Apple drama that has been playing out since 2020. For those who need a refresher, Epic once valiantly attempted to defy Apple by introducing a direct payment option in Fortnite. Naturally, Apple responded with the classic retreat-and-slay maneuver, booting the game off the App Store and cutting off Epic’s developer account like a clumsy magician’s assistant.
Fast forward a bit, and in 2021, it was decreed that Apple must allow iOS developers to link to external payment options. Yet when Apple rolled out this new system, they couldn’t resist wedging in a 27% commission on web link purchases, conveniently forgetting their previous proclamations. Sweeney is now taking to the soapbox to spread the word about fairness, as he urges the Japanese Fair Trade Commission to intervene.
The Punchline
As the saga continues, it seems consumers will be left standing in the wings, watching this epic showdown unfold. Will Sweeney’s cries for justice resonate, or will Apple’s fortress remain impenetrable? Stay tuned for the next hilarious episode in this madcap adventure of mega-corporations and mobile gaming.
