Fortnite disappears from the Play Store and the App store

Pedro Santamaría

4 minutes

Epic Games announces a permanent discount when buying virtual currencies for Fortnite and, beyond the savings that it represents for the user, the interesting thing will be to see how Apple and Google react. Because to access this discount, Epic skips the payment through the system of both companies, which means that neither one nor the other enters that commission that continues to generate so much controversy.

Updated: The app has been removed from the app stores.

Epic and its direct payment

One of the main criticisms of Apple and Google with their respective App Store and Play Store is the commission system they apply. When a developer sells one of their applications or services through their stores, both are left with nothing more and nothing less than the 30% of each transaction as a commission.

That means that for every 10 euros, 3 are entered just like that. Ok, they are its rules and its stores, but that does not mean that, as many developers have said on more than one occasion, it is really fair. Above all because then it is not only what they lose due to the commission, but also due to taxes. And if they raise the price, there are many users who no longer find it attractive to pay, because they consider that a mobile app or game has less value than the same ones but for computers. something to which he free to play You have also done a disservice.

So no matter how many millions they say in each keynote they deliver to these developers, the real gain is not so much for them and it is comparatively the effort for Apple and Google. For this reason, now Epic Games launches a permanent discount when buying V-Bucks -Fortnite virtual currency for the purchase of objects and other items in the game- through a new direct payment option that will surely tickle both stores. intentionally or not.

The discount, which will be permanent, on PC and console does not offer any mystery and is accessed directly. However, on Android and iOS you have to choose: pay through the system of both companies, which implies a 30% commission, or through the Epic Direct Payment.

If you pay through the usual system of each store the 1.000 paVos cost you 9,99 euros. But if you pay by Epic direct payment system, which takes you to a screen where you can enter your card or PayPal, the 1.000 paVos will only cost you 7.99 euros.

Why that 20% discount and why permanent forever? Well, because as they say from Epic, if that 30% that Apple took no longer exists, why not benefit the user with savings.

Will Apple and Google remove Fortnite from their stores?

It may seem like a small thing, but taking into account the number of users that Fortnite moves, this is something that will not please either of the two stores. In addition, it will help many users to be aware of what is happening and even wonder why they don't let each developer establish the payment system they want freely. Something that really should be like this. Ultimately it is your device.

On the other hand, if Apple and Google want to take care of that user experience and their purpose is to make it safe and comfortable, then they should continue with the current rules and current payment options, but without forgetting to give them the freedom to choose. Something that they now do, but only for some specific developers, which is not fair for the global of all those who really give value to devices with new software that expand options or allow new entertainment possibilities.

We'll see what happens, if Apple or Google end up saying something about it or hindering Epic. Ideally, it should serve to make them reconsider, that they adapt the rules to the current times and incidentally give the green light, in the case of Apple, to be able to enjoy platforms such as xCloud, Stadia and GeForce Now.

Updated:

Apple has removed Fortnite from its app store for breaching the rules. Now we will have to see how the issue continues to progress, because it is complex. Fortnite is a machine to generate money and Apple surely does not like losing that commission. The 10% that was missing to reach the commission that Apple takes with respect to what Apple discounts is what Epic seeks to negotiate as a commission. For Epic Games, for its part, losing millions of iOS and iPadOS users will surely not be profitable either.

After the expulsion by Apple, Google has followed, since Fortnite has also ceased to be available in the Play Store. If you were launching a phone and you were preparing to to Install Fortnite on Android |, we have prepared an article in which we explain how to do it. Unfortunately, it is currently impossible download fortnite on iphone and the iPad, so you will have no choice but to wait for the situation to improve.

 


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