New evidence in the ongoing legal battle between Apple and Fortnite , developer , Epic Games has revealed that big game developers did not support Apple’s new exterior repayment options earlier this year, citing higher fees and a lack of significant changes. The prosecutor in the case criticized Apple’s novel procedures, saying,  ,” I’m looking for information and it sounds like you all made plenty of choices without data”.
According to Bloomberg, it was revealed that big game developers had fallen flat with Apple’s latest changes to its App Store policies during a multi-day reading led by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. The changes, introduced in January as a cure for anti- dynamic practices, help third- party apps sold in the U. S. to include an outdoor link to a developer website for processing in- app purchases. However, out of an estimated 65, 000 app developers offering in- app purchases, only 38 applications for outside links have been received by Apple.
Apple CEO Tim Cook poses for a goofy selfie ( Justin Sullivan/Getty )
Fans from Queens, New York City, on July 26, 2019, watch day one of the Fortnite World Cup Finals at Arthur Ashe Stadium. ( Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images )
The 27 % fee that Apple charges developers who want to use the link entitlement program is the primary cause of the low adoption rate. The total cost to developers is more than the 30 % that the App Store has traditionally paid for itself when added to the processing fees. This revelation drew harsh criticism from Judge Rogers, who questioned Apple’s decision- making process and the involvement of top executives, including CEO Tim Cook, in approving the 27 percent fee.
You’re telling me that there are a thousand people involved, but none of them said,” We should take the cost of the developers into account”? the judge asked. ” Out of the thousand people who were involved, none of them raised that issue”?
Epic Games, the creator of the well-known Fortnite game, has been fighting with Apple in court for almost four years, contending that the iPhone maker’s January revisions to the App Store’s rules are ineffective. Apple, on the other hand, maintains that following a trial between the two businesses, it delivered the remedy ordered by Judge Rogers three years ago.
During the hearing, Yonatan Even, an attorney for Epic, questioned Apple’s vice president of finance, Alex Roman, about the lack of evidence supporting Apple’s claim that the App Store changes would lead to lower prices for app users. Even Apple, according to Even, did not consider the additional costs that app developers might face because of alternative payment options when claiming that users would benefit from the changes.
Judge Rogers appeared to agree with Even’s assessment, stating,” I’m looking for data and it sounds like you all made lots of decisions without data”.
Read more at Bloomberg here.
For Breitbart News, Lucas Nolan reports on issues involving free speech and online censorship.
