Apple forced to ditch 30% fee on outside links

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  • Apple may now be forced to ditch any commissions for outside payments
  • That includes ditching scare screens and not limiting developers’ use of outside links
  • This comes as part of a major ruling in the ongoing Epic vs Apple saga

Today is ending with ‘y’, which means another chapter in the ongoing Epic vs Apple dispute! We all thought this legal battle had concluded, but it appears that Apple, the proprietor of iOS and manufacturer of iPhones, might be compelled to abandon a contentious 30% fee on external payment links outside the App Store.

In simpler terms, this suggests that Apple has lost in the lawsuit between Epic and Apple. The dispute began when Tim Sweeney enabled players to purchase in-game items directly through Epic Games’ platform for Fortnite, which is a popular battle royale game, bypassing Apple’s system and offering a lower price.

Earlier, Apple was compelled to eliminate any charges or restrictions on external links within the European Union, while the United States generally remained more favorable towards them.


Linking up

Currently, Apple is prohibited from implementing fees for transactions occurring outside an app, restricting the placement or formatting of links, limiting the visibility of ‘calls to action’ (such as promotional banners), singling out specific apps or developers, employing ‘scare screens’ to manipulate consumer decisions, and must now communicate with users in a neutral manner when informing them about visiting third-party sites.

Essentially, although Epic suffered some defeats in the skirmishes, it appears to have emerged victorious overall. Predictably, Apple intends to contest this decision, but it seems doubtful that they can persuade the adjudicating judges to alter their verdicts.

As the Epic Games Store expands onto Android and iOS devices within both the European Union and the United States, it may not be long until the significance of the Apple App Store on iOS begins to diminish.

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2025-05-01 13:48