Epic Games and Apple are locked in a new battle over Fortnite. This time, it’s taking place in Japan, as the battle royale game was supposed to make its big comeback on Japanese users’ iOS devices before the end of the year.
Unfortunately, Epic boss Tim Sweeney announced on X that this will not be the case.
“Unfortunately, Fortnite will not be returning to iOS in Japan in 2025 as promised. Apple was required to open iOS to competing app stores today, and instead of doing so honestly, the company launched a new manoeuvre of obstruction and lawbreaking, showing blatant disregard for the Japanese government and people. Apple made the wrong choice. Again.”*
Sweeney is referring here to Japan’s new mobile software competition law. To comply with it, Apple now allows third-party app download platforms and external payments. However, the American company charges considerable commissions.
It is estimated at 21% on payments made via third-party methods and 15% for purchases made on the web. Tim Sweeney also points to the “abusive 5% commission on all revenue from apps distributed by competing stores”.
“This is an egregious Apple imposition on distribution and payments they have no involvement with, and a practice the US courts already found to be illegal and upheld on appeal.”
“Obviously, real competition won’t happen, and consumers won’t benefit, when Apple abuses its position between users and competitors to obstruct honest dealing between them. This is another sad day in the history of relationships between platform makers, developers, and consumers, and we will be raising our complaints with the Japanese Fair Trade Commission.”
