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Comment by giancarlostoro | Hacker News Reader

For those who missed it this is the quote that matters here:

> In an escalation, Apple then said it would pull Epic's access to developer tools on iOS and Mac.

> But Microsoft said this would damage a "critical technology" for many third-party game creators.

> That is because Epic also owns the Unreal Engine - a tool widely used by developers from other studios to build games, virtual-reality VR experiences and special effects in major television shows and films.

> Microsoft uses the technology itself.

YIKES, how much longer is this going to go on?

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I may be missing the point, but does this imply that no games based on the Unreal engine could be developed for Mac anymore, as Epic themselves will be unable to develop for it / support it?

It means they cannot fix breakages before a new version of iOS/macOS is generally available, and they won't have access to the new ARM CPU devkit that's critical to port their engine to ARM based macOS.

This is what I'm taking it as. They probably have special access in order to get their engine ready for the latest iOS updates. This move on Apple's part is very abusive. People elsewhere in the thread are comparing Microsoft, but Microsoft wouldn't cripple developer tools because an app from a vendor abused its guidelines. Any store willing to do this has gone too far.

This does seems like an abusive move by Apple.

I note that Epic continues to provide a version of Fortnite that violates the rules and provides the ability to buy in-game currency at a lower price through their own store, and has filed legal papers requesting that Apple be forced to support this while the court case proceeds.

This seems like an abusive move by Epic.

Two wrong don't make a right, but it's tough to see how this isn't a direct result of Epic's actions, and more to the point, something Epic could fix in less than an hour by turning off their violating store.

Turn it back when/if you win the court case, Epic. Right now it seems like you bet that Apple wouldn't call your bluff, and you lost. They did.

Epic had a lawsuit and an advertisement already prepared. They were not bluffing, and they were very confident that Apple would "call" them.

About Fortnite, sure. About their entire account, that seems to have surprised them.

Fortunately for Epic, last night the court agreed that is likely a step too far.

I think it's more that Epic wouldn't be able to make changes to Unreal Related applications they've published on their Apple developer account

Maybe the same length as that unix lawsuit way back when (SCO vs IBM)

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