Epic CEO Tim Sweeney Admits App Store’s 30% Cut Is Similar to Consoles, Would Have Accepted Special Deal With Apple
Humorously, when he got Sweeneys initial email, Cook didnt know who Sweeney was. At the conclusion of todays questioning, Sweeney was asked what he would do if Epic Games loses the case. In action, he said that Apple would be able to cut off Fortnite and get rid of Epic Games from the developer program for any factor. “We would have to live with not supporting the iOS platform,” he said.
Apples legal battle with Epic Games is continuing, and during the second day of the trial, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney continued his testament against Apple.
Sweeney was grilled by Apples legal representatives, and made several points seemingly beneficial to Apple. In addition to discussing how he prefers Apples iPhone and worths Apples personal privacy policies that hes intending to dismantle, Sweeney validated that Apples 30 percent cut is likewise the “most common rate” that other platforms charge.
Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo all take a 30 percent cut from Epic Games on their platforms and require their in-app purchase systems to be utilized, but Sweeney stated that Epic is not challenging them because he thinks in the idea of “subsidized hardware,” though he likewise confessed that iPhone and iOS advancement is “really comparable.” Its also worth noting that Fortnite makes more cash on console platforms than it does from iOS.
Sweeney validated that Epic Games has a history of bullying platform makers. Legendary Games pressed Sony into allowing cross-platform play, but Sony eventually got the upper hand and needs extra payment to enable cross-platform capabilities, unlike iOS, where cross-platform play is free and has been considering that Fortnite released on the App Store.
Apple mentioned Epic Games usage of Apples Metal API and shared correspondence where Sweeney and Epic had applauded Metal in the past as proof that Epic take advantage of Apples SDKs and apis. From an Epic internal e-mail talking about a quote to provide to Apple:
Weve been utilizing Metal on iOS to excellent result because its release in 2014. A fast, nimble, feature-rich API like Metal is exactly what we require to bring a video game developed for modern desktops and consoles to the battery-powered iPhone and iPad. As a designer, it blows away OpenGL in every way.
Starting in 2015, Sweeney started trying to encourage Apple to make the App Store an open platform.
Humorously, when he got Sweeneys preliminary email, Cook didnt understand who Sweeney was. “Is this the man that was at one of our practice sessions?” he asked Phil Schiller in a forwarded e-mail.
When asked whether he would have accepted an unique offer from Apple for a lower App Store commission, Sweeney said “Yes, I would have,” which appears to damage Epics argument that its decision to begin a legal battle with Apple was done to benefit all designers.
At the conclusion of todays questioning, Sweeney was asked what he would do if Epic Games loses the case. In reaction, he stated that Apple would have the ability to cut off Fortnite and remove Epic Games from the developer program for any factor. “We would have to live with not supporting the iOS platform,” he stated.
The legal fight between Apple and Epic will continue for three weeks, with Apple executives like Tim Cook set to affirm throughout the 3rd week. Well have ongoing coverage of Apple v. Epic as the case continues on.