←back to thread

Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

(www.theverge.com)
1704 points ardit33 | 3 comments | 13 Aug 20 19:03 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
mrspeaker ◴[13 Aug 20 20:31 UTC] No.24148531[source]▶
If I go to the App Store on my phone, and go to my "Purchased" list, Fortnite is still listed there. I wasn't up to date, and clicking on "update" gives the message:

    "Fortnite" No Longer Available. The developer has removed this app from the App Store.
Interesting wording. I wonder if they only have one message for pulled-by-Apple vs pulled-by-dev?
replies(4): >>24148597 #>>24149088 #>>24152698 #>>24154909 #
jeffrallen ◴[13 Aug 20 20:35 UTC] No.24148597[source]▶
Wonder if that false message could get them in trouble with consumer rights laws?
replies(1): >>24148686 #
java-man ◴[13 Aug 20 20:40 UTC] No.24148686[source]▶
I hope it does.

Monopolies lead to stagnation, rising prices, and inferior product quality. Even though Apple is not a monopoly in the strict sense, I think we consumers will benefit from alternative app store - or Apple opening up the platform.

I believe one can still have (moderately) secure ecosystem without it being a walled garden.

replies(2): >>24149650 #>>24153014 #
Zenbit_UX ◴[13 Aug 20 21:35 UTC] No.24149650[source]▶
If you have an iPhone the Appstore is unquestionably a monopoly. At least Google can make the case you can install other app stores so the monopoly claim is weaker.
replies(3): >>24150006 #>>24150385 #>>24159456 #
wheelie_boy ◴[13 Aug 20 22:31 UTC] No.24150385[source]▶
It's a little weird to say that the app store has a monopoly on distributing apps on iPhones.

Does Apple also have a monopoly on writing the OS that runs on iPhones?

Do they also have a monopoly on creating the iPhone hardware? And choosing what they write in press releases?

replies(1): >>24150905 #
1. growse ◴[13 Aug 20 23:15 UTC] No.24150905[source]▶
> Does Apple also have a monopoly on writing the OS that runs on iPhones?

Yes, of course. But I think the issue might be the extent to which this is an artificial monopoly, rather than a natural one.

replies(2): >>24153151 #>>24218286 #
2. m4rtink ◴[14 Aug 20 03:56 UTC] No.24153151[source]▶
It should be perfectly possible to run custom OS on all Apple hardware if it was not for the artificial limitations they added.
3. wheelie_boy ◴[19 Aug 20 23:53 UTC] No.24218286[source]▶
I doubt other companies would want to create their own device drivers