Epic Games Presses for EU Intervention Against Tech Titans

Epic Games, the brains behind the renowned game Fortnite, has called upon the European Union to swiftly implement fresh regulations targeting tech giants, highlighting Apple’s hindrance of their efforts to establish an alternative app store for Apple devices. Instead of quoting Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, stressed that Apple’s obstructive actions are aimed at undermining their primary competitor, made possible by the Digital Markets Act (DMA) – a European directive mandating tech behemoths to open up their platforms to competition.

Contrary to the norm, Epic has long been advocating for the infusion of iPhones and Android devices with rival app stores, and for Apple and Google to reduce the exorbitant commission fees levied on transactions carried out on their platforms. While the EU has integrated these requests into the DMA, Epic asserts that their initial bid to introduce their own store on iPhones was rejected, partly as a reprisal for publicly lambasting Apple.

In a thought-provoking analogy, Tim Sweeney likened these actions to “feudal lords displaying the heads of their former adversaries on their castles’ walls to dissuade others from criticizing.” In a recent turn of events, Apple terminated Epic’s developer account, which was vital for developing essential software to operate their individual stores on Apple devices.

Epic was served a notice from Apple’s legal team, outlining Sweeney’s repeated critiques of Apple and Epic’s violations of Apple’s app store policies. Apple justified its actions by citing Epic’s substantial breach of their agreement and Apple’s prerogative to cease Epic’s operations at any moment.

Epic contends that the denial of their application signifies that “Apple has no intention of fostering authentic competition” on their devices. Sweeney stresses the need for the “unambiguous condemnation of Apple for breaching the law, akin to any other violator.” Epic has notified the European Commission about the issue, as the body responsible for enforcing EU regulations.

“We firmly believe that this is precisely the type of behavior that the DMA aims to rectify,” stated Corie Wright, Vice President of Public Policy at Epic Games.