Why you can no longer install Tencent’s Fortnite on iOS

“Fortnite” disappeared from the App Store as part of developer Epic Games’ big legal and regulatory showdown with Apple. Epic Games is owned by Tencent. Apple terminated Epic Games’ developer account last week, making it impossible to reinstall iOS versions of the company’s apps. If you have never downloaded “Fortnite”, you are out of luck for now. Those who have the game downloaded already can still play it, but since the launch of “Chapter 2: Season 4”, iOS players no longer have access to the latest content, including the Marvel-themed new season.

Players who play exclusively on iPhone, iPad, and macOS are also unable to use crossplay with other systems. For those who had downloaded “Fortnite” at least once in the past but perhaps offloaded it or removed it manually, there was still a way to reinstall the game on your iOS device of choice. Go to the “My Purchases” section of the App Store, which can be found by clicking on your avatar in the top right-hand corner of any of the main screens, to find your app directory of all iOS apps you have ever downloaded.

Search “Fortnite”. The app should show up, and tapping the cloud icon will initiate the downloading process. You still needed to install the nearly 10GB collection of app files, as “Fortnite” exists on mobile as a kind of shell for the larger chunk of game files that must be retrieved from Epic Games servers. But going through that process would have put the app back on your home screen and made it available to play once updated, for now at least.

The trick even works if any member of an Apple Family Sharing plan has ever downloaded “Fortnite” on iOS in the past.

It is not quite right to call this a loophole, as this behavior has always existed in one form or another for iOS apps. For instance, you could still play Flappy Bird for years after its creator pulled the game from the App Store, until Apple switched away from 32-bit apps with the launch of iOS 11 in 2017 and the game ceased functioning. As part of Apple’s termination of Epic Games’ developer account, the company is no longer able to submit new apps to the App Store or issue updates to any existing ones.

And with the apps completely delisted, they can not be reinstalled even if you search for and find them in your purchase history. Trying to do so just results in a message reading, “This item is no longer available.” There is no telling how long this “Fortnite” struggle will persist or whether Epic Games will ever decide to give in to Apple’s demands and remove its own in-app payment method.

As of right now, you can still take Epic Games up on its price cut offer by paying less for “Fortnite” V-bucks. But you are no longer able to buy the new season’s battle pass because Epic Games can not update the app properly. In the ongoing legal spat between Apple and “Fortnite” maker Epic Games, the latter just got an unexpected ally. Microsoft officially submitted a letter to the court in support of Epic Games.

Microsoft was writing because of the ripple effects of this particular legal battle between Apple and Epic Games.

Microsoft is concerned that Apple’s move to cut development ties with Epic Games will harm game creators and gamers. That is because, beyond “Fortnite”, Epic Games also makes the Unreal Engine software suite. The Unreal Engine software suite is a set of software that is used to create games, including the smartphone versions of “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds” and Microsoft’s “Forza Street”.

When Apple yanked “Fortnite” from the App Store, Apple also canceled Epic Games’ Developer Program contracts effective August 28th 2020. Without access to Apple’s developer technology, it would be unable to issue updates to the Unreal Engine on iOS or Mac, which would in turn mean that any developer using the software would be unable to update their own games to support new versions of iOS and Mac OS. In short, a variety of games on Apple’s App Store could be affected by Epic Games losing access to Apple’s developer program.

Apple’s discontinuation of Epic Games’ ability to develop and support Unreal Engine for iOS or macOS will harm game creators and gamers. Unreal Engine is critical technology for numerous game creators including Microsoft, and the move to revoke Epic Games’ access could harm already-launched iOS and macOS games built on Unreal Engine. “Fortnite” was pulled from Apple’s App Store and the Google Play store on August 13th 2020 following an update issued by Epic Games that gave users the option to bypass the companies’ digital payment systems.

Instead of buying in-game virtual money through Apple or Google, players could buy it directly from Epic Games at a 20% discount.

The update was a terms-of-service violation for any developer with an app on the App Store or Google Play store. In response, Apple and Google pulled “Fortnite” from their respective digital storefronts. Epic Games, anticipating as much, filed suits against each company. Apple will not make an exception for Epic Games to App Store policy, which forces every app publisher to use Apple’s payment systems, because it is not right to put Epic Games’ business interests ahead of the guidelines that protect Apple’s customers.

Apple is contesting Epic Games’ filing for a temporary restraining order, and the first hearing is set for Monday August 24th 2020. “Fortnite” creator is geared up for a bona fide dust-up against Big Tech, and it is winning the support of other prominent app developers in the process. Spotify and Match Group recently issued statements in support of Epic Games, which filed suit against Apple and Google alleging monopolistic practices.

The tech giants, which represent the world’s two dominant smartphone operating systems, pulled “Fortnite” from their app stores for violating their rules on in-app payments after Epic Games tried offering discounts on in-game currency for players who bypassed Apple and Google with their purchases. Match Group fully supports Epic Games’ efforts to show how Apple uses its dominant position and unfair policies to hurt consumers, app developers, and entrepreneurs. Regulators across the globe have expressed similar concerns and are examining what some describe as Apple’s arbitrary practices.

Spotify applauds Epic Games’ decision to take a stand against Apple and shed further light on Apple’s abuse of its dominant position.

Spotify argued that Apple’s unfair practices have disadvantaged competitors and deprived consumers for far too long. Facebook joined in on the criticism that Apple did not waive its 30% fee or allow Facebook to use its own payments tool on a new feature that the social media giant was rolling out to allow businesses to host virtual events. Google also is not waiving the fee but will allow Facebook to use its own payment processing tool, and Facebook is not taking a revenue cut from this feature.

Microsoft weighed in even before the Epic Games saga after Apple determined that the company could not list its xCloud game streaming service in the App Store because Apple would not be able to review all of the games made available through the service. Microsoft argued that Apple consistently treats gaming apps differently, applying more lenient rules to non-gaming apps even when they include interactive content. Both Apple and Google keep as much as 30% of all purchases of digital goods made in apps that were downloaded through their app stores, a practice that has garnered increasing pushback from developers and government officials.

Spotify filed an antitrust complaint against Apple in Europe 2019, arguing that the company’s App Store payment policies made it difficult for other apps to effectively compete against Apple Music. Regulators are looking into Apple’s App Store practices, which were also a focus of a House of Representatives antitrust hearing in August 2020. Lawmakers questioned Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook on the company’s App Store “take rates” and what would prevent the company from increasing its cut of App Store-related purchases down the line.

Apple said in a statement following “Fortnite”’s removal that its App Store guidelines are designed to keep the store safe for its users and that the company will make every effort to work with Epic Games to resolve these violations so “Fortnite” can return to the App Store.

Match Group, which operates Tinder and other dating apps, could be a prime beneficiary of more developer-friendly app store practices. In general, developers pay Apple a 30% cut of digital service revenue for the first year of a recurring subscription and 15% for all remaining years, but many dating app users are not signing on to paid plans for multiple years, meaning Match may be paying the full 30% more often than some other developers. Apple shares have gained 48% as the Dow Jones Industrial Average has risen 18%.

It is easy to roll your eyes at Epic Games’ “Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite” ad, which parodies a 1984 Apple commercial about the company’s fight against a monopoly. Apple is the most valuable company in the world, surely it can live with taking a smaller commission from products sold on its storefront. Everything about this sucks. It is a sentiment echoed on social media, where some folks posit that in a slap fight between two tech giants, the only real winner is the corrupting tendrils of capitalism.

After all, this issue comes down to money, and making more of it. But that skeptical narrative also flattens what else is at stake in the legal battle between Apple and Epic Games. The language of the lawsuit is revealing. In it, Epic Games says it does not want monetary compensation from the proceedings, nor is it seeking favorable treatment for itself.

Many folks worry that this tussle will just end with Apple easing up on Epic Games while ignoring everyone else, but the company’s lawsuit explicitly says it does not want special treatment that is not afforded to others.

Instead, Epic Games is seeking injunctive relief to allow fair competition in these two key markets that directly affect hundreds of millions of consumers and tens of thousands, if not more, of third-party app developers. Epic Games’ complaint against Google reads similarly, stating that it is not seeking favorable treatment for itself, but rather, a more open environment for everybody. Obviously, winning this battle would mean that Epic Games makes more money, which would be favorable to the company.

But the implications of the lawsuit could be more far-reaching for the gaming industry at large, especially when it comes to smaller game developers. If Apple or any major storefront took less than its usual 30% cut for apps and in-app purchases, it could make a world of a difference for indie developers. The percentage that Apple takes is pretty standard on digital storefronts, like Steam or the Nintendo eShop.

But mobile devices are more ubiquitous than dedicated gaming hardware, and seeing a notoriously stubborn company budge on something like this could help sway other storefronts to reconsider their commissions, too. One recent viral tweet by game developer Emma Maassen posits that if storefronts took a smaller revenue share, like the 12% that Epic Games takes on its own storefront, that extra income would have allowed her studio Kitsune Games to develop a new title without crowdfunding. The replies to the tweet include other indies sharing similar opportunities that would have become possible with more equitable revenue sharing models across the gaming industry.

The amount of extra stuff indie developers could add to their games would be insane.

On platforms like Steam, the more you sell, the better you are rewarded. The revenue share can go down to 20%. Arguably, a smaller developer needs that extra money more than a blockbuster studio. The stakes of a smaller fee are higher for the little guy, which typically does not get to influence what these numbers look like. Epic Games almost seems like it is taking up the mantle for them.

Epic Games does seem to be walking the talk. Beyond offering a better revenue sharing model on its own storefront than other major players, the company has been making other progressive strides that help smaller developers across the board. In early 2020, Epic Games announced that anyone using its proprietary Unreal Engine would no longer have to pay royalties on the first $1 million in revenue, a move that only affects indies.

This is on top of offering $100 million in grants to people using the Unreal Engine in novel ways, including the improvement of open-source tools that help the community at large. In practice, Epic Games appears to uphold the idea that a rising tide lifts all boats. A smaller revenue share might mean fewer profits for gatekeepers in the short term, but if it empowers creators to make and do more, the long-term tail is better for everyone involved.

It is a generous philosophy that has become rare to see within tech.

We live in a world where Facebook has destabilized democracy, Google has previously held contracts with the government to improve weapons, food delivery services like Grubhub can contribute to the destruction of small businesses, and Uber threatens livelihoods. Algorithms tuned for engagement and expansion regularly betray everyday people. Google’s old motto, “Do not be evil,” now seems like a joke.

Corporations do not act like they want what is best for everyone, not anymore. More than any big, modern tech company, Epic Games seems like the personal vehicle of an optimist who believes in something bigger than itself, even if it is unrealistic or foolhardy. Epic Games will not be the only party that stands to benefit. Following Epic Games’ removal from the Apple App Store, “Fortnite” has also been kicked off of the Google Play Store for Android.

Epic Games snuck in an update for both the iPhone and Android versions of the game that allowed users to pay the company directly for in-app purchases instead of using the officially sanctioned system for both platforms. What followed was a wild ride, Apple kicked “Fortnite” off the App Store, then Epic Games sued Apple, and finally there was an in-game video parodying Apple’s own 1984 commercial, positioning Apple itself as the monopolist. Now, Google is in the conversation.

As with Apple, Google requires that games use the Google Play system for in-app purchases.

Although the Play Store’s rules are somewhat more lax than Apple’s when it comes to in-app purchases, Google does draw the line at games. It is quite clear-cut, developers offering products within a game downloaded on Google Play or providing access to game content must use Google Play In-app Billing as the method of payment. Google’s system takes a 30 percent cut, just as Apple’s does.

Epic Games’ update ran afoul of that rule, and while Google took longer to make a decision to ban “Fortnite” over it than Apple, both companies reached the same conclusion. The open Android ecosystem lets developers distribute apps through multiple app stores. For game developers who choose to use the Play Store, Google has consistent policies that are fair to developers and keep the store safe for users.

While “Fortnite” remains available on Android, Google can no longer make it available on Play because “Fortnite” violates Google’s policies. However, Google welcomes the opportunity to continue its discussions with Epic Games and bring “Fortnite” back to Google Play. Android is an open ecosystem that allows multiple stores and that Google Play’s policies need to apply equally to all developers.

Google has no problem with those other stores existing nor with Epic Games distributing its game on them.

You can still install “Fortnite” on Android. Epic Games itself points visitors to its website where they can either download “Fortnite” through the Epic Games app or via the Samsung Galaxy Store on Samsung devices. This is different from iPhone and iPad, where it is now impossible to install the game if you had not already done so. Epic Games has a history of tussling with Google over this Play Store rule.

In August 2018, Epic Games pulled “Fortnite” from the Google Play Store and began distributing it directly. That is only possible because Android allows installs from third-party sources, though it does make that process seem a bit dangerous because of the security warnings that appear when you do. Epic Games capitulated and put “Fortnite” back into the Google Play Store, though not without some very angry rhetoric about it.

Google puts software downloadable outside of Google Play at a disadvantage through technical and business measures such as scary, repetitive security pop-ups for downloaded and updated software, restrictive manufacturer, and carrier agreements and dealings. Google characterizes third party software sources as malware, and new efforts such as Google Play Protect to outright block software obtained outside the Google Play store. An app as popular as “Fortnite” being installed via other means, specifically other stores, has the potential to lessen the centrality of the Google Play Store on Android, and maybe increase fragmentation.

There are already competing stores, Samsung is pushing its own store heavily on its Android devices, for example.

But in general, the Google Play Store has been the go-to software source for most people. Epic Games is already actively encouraging users to also use the version that comes from Samsung’s store, telling users that they can get the discount that started this whole mess if they do. You will find that V-Bucks and real-money offers are now discounted by up to 20% through Epic Games’ own website and the Samsung Galaxy Store.

If Epic Games can get users in the habit of using other stores, that could mean users will start to want to use other stores for other app installs. If you have used any recent Samsung Galaxy phone, you have seen it offer the option to handle the installs for some major apps. For just one other gaming-related example, look to Microsoft. Microsoft’s upcoming Game Pass Ultimate streaming service xCloud will be available both on Google Play and on Samsung’s Galaxy Store.

If you install xCloud via Google Play, you will not be able to purchase DLC content for Xbox games because of that 30 percent cut.