←back to thread

Apple just kicked Fortnite off the App Store

(www.theverge.com)
1704 points ardit33 | 2 comments | 13 Aug 20 19:03 UTC | HN request time: 0.449s | source
Show context
lordleft ◴[13 Aug 20 20:04 UTC] No.24147974[source]▶
Imagine if Microsoft did this on PCs. a) prohibiting the installation of non-windows store software (sideloading) and b) insisting that all purchases done via apps give them a 30% cut. I think this is a ridiculous practice on the behalf of Apple.
replies(41): >>24148076 #>>24148127 #>>24148143 #>>24148262 #>>24148286 #>>24148287 #>>24148292 #>>24148330 #>>24148859 #>>24149045 #>>24149092 #>>24149163 #>>24149446 #>>24149497 #>>24149512 #>>24149528 #>>24149542 #>>24149625 #>>24149734 #>>24149806 #>>24149912 #>>24149964 #>>24150003 #>>24150060 #>>24150061 #>>24150176 #>>24150200 #>>24150336 #>>24150413 #>>24150430 #>>24150437 #>>24150439 #>>24150539 #>>24150604 #>>24150740 #>>24150801 #>>24151054 #>>24151476 #>>24151607 #>>24151940 #>>24152104 #
simonh ◴[13 Aug 20 22:26 UTC] No.24150336[source]▶
Microsoft already does exactly this on console. When will we see the Google Stadia game streaming app on the XBOX? Does Microsoft really not take a cut of VBucks bought on the Microsoft store?

This is just three big corporations fighting over their respective slices of the pie, if you think any of this is being said or done for your benefit I’m sure Epic has a plentiful supply of really tasty Koolaid for you. But no pie, sorry.

replies(9): >>24150438 #>>24150493 #>>24150506 #>>24150560 #>>24150584 #>>24150751 #>>24151756 #>>24151959 #>>24163042 #
ngngngng ◴[13 Aug 20 22:40 UTC] No.24150493[source]▶
> Microsoft already does exactly this on console.

I never thought about it like this. It could be viewed differently because the Xbox is a game console and the iphone is a general handheld computer, but perhaps it should be illegal to restrict users installing software on your device by any means they choose, though there's no reason for you to support those means.

replies(4): >>24150548 #>>24150613 #>>24151018 #>>24151043 #
1. ballenf ◴[13 Aug 20 23:24 UTC] No.24151018[source]▶
Has apple ever blocked or threatened anyone for developing a rival OS? For an OS that could run on iPhones to be developed, it seems pretty clear that Apple would absolutely have to "support those means" in terms of publishing low level hardware and security chip specs. And distributing secret keys or offering an agnostic signing service.

But what I think you mean to propose is a restriction at the software level, not hardware level. That anyone who sells an operating system must allow any app to be installed within that OS. I think we leave it as an exercise for the reader to define "operating system" when it comes to our increasingly "smart" homes and cars.

replies(1): >>24151899 #
2. wtracy ◴[14 Aug 20 00:51 UTC] No.24151899[source]▶
> Has apple ever blocked or threatened anyone for developing a rival OS?

The iPhone boot ROM will only launch operating systems cryptographically signed by Apple:

https://support.apple.com/guide/security/hardware-security-o...