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Comment by klmadfejno | Hacker News Reader

The engine is open source isn't it? They can't stop you from downloading the source and compiling it, right?

Source available, not open source.

Ok, but is the general point accurate?

No. You would be free to compile your copy of the Unreal Engine, but without the ability to use Apple development software, it would be impossible for Epic to continue developing the engine on Mac. The end result is that the engine would not continue to develop on Mac, and would eventually likely stop functioning.

Already with new ARM-based Macs, or have they already published a fully working version?

It's not clear how the Epic vs Apple war is going to come out, but both sides have doubled down on their positions, so it's probably going to take a while to resolve. So the worst case scenario, third party UE4 game devs being unable to get their game's code signed for MacOS or IOS installation, could happen.

That sounds improbable, and if enacted, grounds for a much heavier suit against Apple. Even if Apple has beef with Epic, I don't see how Apple could refuse third parties who want to use Epic's software as part of their product in Apple stores. There's an element of people using UE4 being in contract with Epic by default, but presumably Apple has no basis to say you must not have a business relationship with Epic in order to publish on the app store.

The unreal game engine itself shouldn't have anything that apple dislikes.

See Washington Post coverage: "Apple cuts off Epic from its tools, endangering future Unreal Engine projects on iOS and Mac".[1] There's a certain amount of posturing here, but if neither side backs down and the court doesn't issue an injunction, further development with Unreal Engine on Apple platforms stops.

[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2020/08/17/apple-...

Coverage on Forbes.[1] "Even if Epic anticipated the Fortnite ban, and were ready with a cute parody video and a sixty page injunction, they do not seem to have anticipated Apple coming after Unreal itself. "

[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2020/08/18/does-apple...

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