For the past few days, Apple and Epic Games have not been on good terms. In a brief overview from our first coverage, Epic Game retaliated against Apple by bypassing the App Store’s 30% cut game developers are required to provide when publishing their app on the platform. Epic Games continues to retaliate in an effort to level the playing field for game developers and, as a result, its most popular game Fortnite was removed from the App Store. In addition, the rise in tension between Apple and Epic Games have continued with Apple accusing Epic Games of attempting to forge “special arrangements.” A tweet from Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, however, makes a different statement.

Today, Apple said Epic is seeking a special deal, but that’s not true. We’re fighting for open platforms and policy changes equally benefiting all developers. And it’ll be a hell of a fight! https://t.co/R5A48InGTg

— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) August 14, 2020

The numerous tweets have received immense attention as well as the filing by Epic Games within the past few days. “Not content simply to remove Fortnite from the App Store, Apple is attacking Epic’s entire business in unrelated areas. Epic is likely to succeed on the merits of its claims, but without an injunction, Epic will be irreparably harmed long before final judgment comes. If the Unreal Engine can no longer support Apple platforms, the software developers that use it will be forced to use alternatives.” – stated in Epic Game’s filing against Apple. 

Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store and has informed Epic that on Friday, August 28 Apple will terminate all our developer accounts and cut Epic off from iOS and Mac development tools. We are asking the court to stop this retaliation. Details here: https://t.co/3br1EHmyd8

— Epic Games Newsroom (@EpicNewsroom) August 17, 2020

In the end, there is no telling whether Epic Game’s radical move on Apple will have an effect on future game developers. It is clear, however, that Apple as well as other tech giants may experience backlash repeatedly from smaller firms due to the underlying societal fear of a monopoly growing among the tech/game industry.