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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: 0.634s | source
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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?
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jeffrallen ◴[13 Aug 20 20:35 UTC] No.24148597[source]▶
Wonder if that false message could get them in trouble with consumer rights laws?
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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.

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1. acomjean ◴[14 Aug 20 03:36 UTC] No.24153014[source]▶
Its very deceptive. All those kids who have had their game shut off aren't going to be happy, but they're learning a valuable lesson.

Fortnite isn't just a game anymore, its where a lot of kids are hanging out. concerts, movies and other things are happening there.

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2. firloop ◴[14 Aug 20 03:43 UTC] No.24153060[source]▶
Nobody has really “had their game shut off”. People who have Fortnite installed already are still able to play it indefinitely. Apple could have done this by revoking Epic’s developer certificate, but that hasn’t yet happened.
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3. Karunamon ◴[14 Aug 20 04:29 UTC] No.24153398[source]▶
That will go away the moment a server-side update requires a client update, and the update won't be accessible.