Epic Games’ legal battle with Apple over its ban on third-party payment systems in the App Store has cost the company more than $100 million in legal fees alone, though the lost revenue was significantly higher, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney told Business Insider.
“We can’t say exactly how much we would have made on iOS, but over the two years that we’ve been on the platform, Fortnite has made about $300 million on iOS. So you could project hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue as a result of this fight,” Sweeney explained.
He added that it’s “easy to assume” the total cost in lost revenue to Epic Games was a billion dollars or more. This estimate includes lost revenue from iOS users directly and from those who stopped playing because their friends with iOS devices could no longer access the game due to Apple’s restrictions.
Ruling and Policy Change
Following a ruling by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers, who is presiding over Epic’s antitrust case against Apple, the court required Apple to update its App Store guidelines. The decision allows developers to integrate third-party payment systems into their apps.
While Apple has since appealed the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the change is already being seen as a victory among developers. According to MacRumors, it’s a win that was made possible through Epic Games’ extended and costly legal push.
Fortnite’s Return and Future Plans
Sweeney told Business Insider that Epic plans to take advantage of Apple’s updated policy and bring Fortnite back to the U.S. App Store “later this week.” He confirmed that Epic Games has already notified Apple of the decision.
Epic is also preparing to launch Epic Games Store Webshops later this year, adds NIX Solutions. This feature will allow developers to create digital storefronts within the Epic Games Store platform. These web stores will be free for developers generating less than $1 million per year per app. For those earning above that threshold, Epic will charge a 12% commission.
As the situation evolves and Epic’s plans unfold, we’ll keep you updated as more integrations become available.