Fortnite Won't Return to iOS in Japan as Epic CEO Blasts Apple's New 'Junk Fees'

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has issued a blistering response to Apple's newly announced business terms for Japan, stating that Fortnite will no longer return to iOS in the region as previously planned. Sweeney described Apple's compliance with the Mobile Software Competition Act as a "travesty of obstruction and lawbreaking," accusing the company of imposing illegal fees and surveillance on competitors.



Following Apple's announcement that it would allow alternative app marketplaces in Japan, Sweeney took to X to dismantle the new policy. He specifically targeted the fee structure, which includes a 21% commission on third-party in-app payments and a 15% fee for web purchases. He also criticized the new 5% Core Technology Commission applied to apps distributed outside the App Store, labeling these charges as "competition-crushing junk fees" on transactions Apple has no involvement in.


Sweeney also raised privacy concerns regarding Apple's mandatory reporting API, which requires developers to report external transactions. He characterized this as an intention to "surveil all transactions," arguing that US courts have already found similar practices illegal. Additionally, he claimed Apple is introducing "anticompetitive warning screens" meant to mislead consumers into thinking that dealing with competitors poses security risks.

As a direct result of these terms, the plan to bring Fortnite back to Japanese iOS users in 2025 has been scrapped. "Apple chose poorly. Again," Sweeney wrote, adding that Epic intends to file formal complaints with the Japanese Fair Trade Commission.

To illustrate the severity of the restrictions, Sweeney compared the situation to the PC gaming market. "Can you imagine the gamer and regulator uproar that would ensue if Microsoft required all games from Steam and Epic Games Store to call its commerce surveillance API and report all transactions back to Microsoft?" he asked. "That's what Apple just announced in Japan."

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