Apple is denying Epic Games accounts from using its sign-in system

[Cal Jeffrey]

A hot potato: The fireworks continue between the two tech drama queens, Epic and Apple, as they bicker about the App Store tax. Today, the game maker said the iPhone maker is cutting off its access to the "Sign In with Apple" feature. Users are warned that they might lose their accounts if they do not update their sign-in credentials.

On Wednesday, Epic Games announced via Twitter that users who access Epic accounts through the Sign In with Apple system need to change their login credentials within the next two days. The company says Apple is cutting off its access to the one-click login method, presumably over their ongoing legal battle.

The restriction applies to all Epic services, including Fortnite, the Epic Games Store, and Unreal Engine 5 accounts. Users failing to update by Friday risk losing access. However, the company did say that in the event any users miss the September 11 cut off, they may still be able to recover their account manually by contacting Epic Support. It also updated its help pages today with instructions on how to change sign-in information.

Apple will no longer allow users to sign into Epic Games accounts using “Sign In with Apple” as soon as September 11, 2020. If you used “Sign In with Apple”, please make sure your email and password are up to date. https://t.co/4XZX5g0eaf

— Epic Games Store (@EpicGames) September 9, 2020

The restriction is just the latest punch to be thrown between the two rivals in their spat over the so-called "App Store tax." Apple threatened to ban all of Epic's developer accounts last month, but Epic was awarded a temporary restraining order from that action until the two companies iron out their differences.

However, the injunctive relief does not prohibit Apple from denying access to its sign-in system. It's is not a devastating blow by the iPhone maker since there are alternative ways for users to log in to their accounts. It is an inconvenience, though, especially for anyone who may have missed the announcement.

Fortunately for Epic, Apple's seemingly retaliatory actions only help the developer in its effort to make the Cupertino powerhouse out to be a bully. In its efforts to pressure Epic to back down, Apple has only galvanized support from Epic's fan base.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/86690-apple-denying-epic-games-accounts-using-sign-system.html

 

[brucek]

So petty.

Also seems pretty nonstrategic - I don't see how Apple gains anything from this, while there is maybe some potential for blowback. It's not illegal but Apple was already in focus in the judiciary, in the legislature, in executive branch regulatory agencies, and in the press. Why risk convincing even one more decision maker that you are a bully who needs to be reigned in over absolutely nothing?

 

[OortCloud]

Gives you an insight into the great minds now running Apple...

 

[Lew Zealand]

 

[Lounds]

Epic games is a drop in the ocean in revenue apple was making in micro transactions from epic games compared to what epic games stands to lose. Epic games tried to take on steam, guess what steam hasn't changed its margins, developers see better margins at epic games but fail to see the benefit of the massive customer base Apple and Steam has.

 

[Xallisto]

Knock em down Epic!

 

[Zinixo]

You couldn't give me an apple product,I despise everything the company stands for.

 

[nnguy2]

You couldn't give me an apple product,I despise everything the company stands for.

They're recruiters reaches out to me now and then and I give them a hard pass.

 

[CrisisDog]

I used to be an Apple fan, but it’s gone to hell since Tim Cook took over. The smug virtual presentation earlier this year with the announcement of going RISC / Apple silicon was the final turning point for me. If only Epic would support a Linux again...

 

[VaRmeNsI]

Epic Store sucks, laggy and captcha ridden.

Quite frankly I'd be happy to watch Epic and Apple sue each other into oblivion.

 

[Rayneofpayne]

So petty.

Also seems pretty nonstrategic - I don't see how Apple gains anything from this, while there is maybe some potential for blowback. It's not illegal but Apple was already in focus in the judiciary, in the legislature, in executive branch regulatory agencies, and in the press. Why risk convincing even one more decision maker that you are a bully who needs to be reigned in over absolutely nothing?

They have been this way for a while, using technicalities to get around regulators and laws.
It's about time they are reigned in.

 

[Rayneofpayne]

I used to be an Apple fan, but it’s gone to hell since Tim Cook took over. The smug virtual presentation earlier this year with the announcement of going RISC / Apple silicon was the final turning point for me. If only Epic would support a Linux again...

He's the problem why ? Support something only a few people use. Linux does not have enough users to justify the products, that is why it has always been a small developer platform, while most people will only ever use it under Google Android, and in some cases with a raspberry pi open source means security nightmare.

 

[Rayneofpayne]

Epic games is a drop in the ocean in revenue apple was making in micro transactions from epic games compared to what epic games stands to lose. Epic games tried to take on steam, guess what steam hasn't changed its margins, developers see better margins at epic games but fail to see the benefit of the massive customer base Apple and Steam has.

Difference is Apple is a draconian child company with a monopoly on their products which I might add Europe strictly forbids.

 

[Lew Zealand]

Difference is Apple is a draconian child company with a monopoly on their products which I might add Europe strictly forbids.

Nintendo has similar restrictions on their products, since the 1980s. But Apple is worth $2T and wringing $ out of them should be more worth the effort.

 

[bexwhitt]

Epic Store sucks, laggy and captcha ridden.

Quite frankly I'd be happy to watch Epic and Apple sue each other into oblivion.

you should hope The Epic Games store gets better and it forces steam to lower their cut so developers have more money to make great games.

 

[Rayneofpayne]

Nintendo has similar restrictions on their products, since the 1980s. But Apple is worth $2T and wringing $ out of them should be more worth the effort.

What? Nintendo never even knew what the internet or digital storefront was until the ds line. There is a difference between a console and a phone or computer.

 

[dnous]

Probably an unpopular opinion, but I think Apple is doing the right thing here. Epic is making us believe that Apple is just leeching of the app devs without providing anything of value at all, just the right to sell on iOS.

They are curating their own store (something Epic also does with EGS), provide and maintain tools and documentation, but also a secure environment for customers to do their purchases. Without any hidden extra costs, such as additional fees by a payment processor (which Epic does with EGS).

By removing access to the sign-in system they are indirectly showing one of the other forms of additional value the Apple store provides to both customers and developers. The gross margin of 30% seems rather steep, but in the grand picture it is an healthy profit margin. I cannot find the net margin for the Apple Store, but an educated guess would be that it is around 15-18%. Which is an healthy profit margin.

 

[Lew Zealand]

What? Nintendo never even knew what the internet or digital storefront was until the ds line. There is a difference between a console and a phone or computer.

Sure they're physically different and serve somewhat different purposes but legally, they are both closed systems and this is a legal case. All legal counsel needs to do is convince a judge of a precedent which is favorable to their case.

 

[tom111]

The EPIC guy is stupid.
Everybody knows that Apple blocks the account, when you do not pay the 30% Apple fee.

 

[brucek]

Epic is making us believe that Apple is just leeching of the app devs without providing anything of value at all, just the right to sell on iOS.

That is not what their legal briefs say at all. They say that Apple is preventing 3rd parties from providing their own app stores and transaction engines on the iOS platform, which is of course correct. Whether Apple is obligated to let them is what the courts will decide, and will probably come down to whether the courts feel that Apple ecosystem is large & significant enough to be considered a market all by itself, or whether it is merely one part of a larger market for overall mobile devices & apps.

 

[Xallisto]

The issue here is that Apple and Google are gate-keeping over billions of devices that they don't actually own.

This is the argument, if the actual owners of that hardware (Phone owners) want to install Fortnite outside of using the stores provided they should be able 2.

And without restrictions being put in their way by Apple and Google because of their privileged positions as the OS on those said phones.

Apple and Google should not be able to dictate to those phone owners what they can or can not install and most importantly where they install those applications from.

Even if they are installing their apps from trojan.infecty.face that's their prerogative.

 

[Rayneofpayne]

Sure they're physically different and serve somewhat different purposes but legally, they are both closed systems and this is a legal case. All legal counsel needs to do is convince a judge of a precedent which is favorable to their case.

There is a distinctive difference, you have to have a phone and a computer.....
You don't need a gaming console.
On top of that they sell physical copies of games leading to capitalism to do its thing from multiple vendors and you can also buy digital keys and redeem them for a different digital market so you aren't pegged into 1 digital store.

Apple no matter what you are paying a tax to their undedserved revenue stream, it's completely incomparable.