By Jun Velasco

Epic Games, creator of the world's most dominant battle royale game Fortnite, is in an epic fight with Apple.  In its most recent game update, it allowed gamers the direct payment option to purchase game items using Epic's own payment system. A move that circumvents Apple's in-app-purchase policy, resulting in the removal of Fortnite in the App Store.

Now, Epic Games is in its own battle royale with Apple. And it had chosen a formidable opponent.  

Before we get into the details of what could be an uncompromising position for both parties, let us see first what it means for gamers with Fortnite missing in the App Store.

Fortnite being banned from the App Store means that it will not be able to offer any update for its iOS version.  That means no Fortnite Chapter 2 - Season 4 when the update becomes available.  Fortnite will continue to work on its current version on both the iPhone and the iPad.  

Sadly, new users can no longer download it in any iOS device as long as the ban remains unresolved.  

The big question is how this issue will be resolved. Apple's position, as it applies to all the developers that make their app available through the app store, update the game following the App Store guidelines. Simple enough, well not really for Epic Games.

Epic Games claims that the 30% fee that Apple charges developers for transactions through the App Store forces them to offer game items at higher prices for their gamers.  And by allowing them the direct payment option, they gain the benefit of possibly acquiring game items less than if paid through the App Store.  Gamers indeed benefit, if this is the case.  But over the long term, Fortnite's ban on the App Store means they are now limited to the version that they already have.  

The possibility of Apple changing its position is highly unlikely. As the logic goes, Epic Games already denied Apple the revenue by offering the direct payment option, so Apple gains nothing by allowing the game to remain on the App Store. 

Apple's App Store is the ultimate app gatekeeper. And its rules are absolute until Apple decides otherwise. For Epic Games, its absence in the App Store will eventually deny millions of Fortnite fans the ability to upgrade and play the game in their iOS devices.  A definite loss for Epic Games.

How Epic Games intends to win this battle royale remains a battle plan that is yet to be seen. Its effort to get others to follow its revolution may lead to significant change. Or this exercise will just lead to a massive retreat.

At the moment, millions of Fortnite gamers will have to live with what they already have and will remain with no prospect for an update on their iOS devices.  In the next weeks or months, it will play out to either be an epic win or an epic fail.