Apple Kills Epic’s Developer Account. Again.

Epic Games revealed that Apple suddenly and without warning terminated its developer account, just weeks after re-approving it. For now, at least, Epic’s plans for an iPhone game store are on hold.

“To our surprise, Apple has terminated our Epic Games Sweden AB developer account and now we cannot develop the Epic Games Store for iOS,” a new Epic Games announcement notes. “This is a serious violation of the DMA and shows Apple has no intention of allowing true competition on iOS devices.”

As Epic explains, the DMA requires Apple to allow third-party app stores like the Epic Games Store. By terminating the developer account, Apple has in effect removed “one of the largest potential competitors” to its own App Store and “showing other developers what happens when you try to compete with Apple or are critical of their unfair practices.”

“If Apple maintains its power to kick a third party marketplace off iOS at its sole discretion, no reasonable developer would be willing to utilize a third party app store, because they could be permanently separated from their audience at any time,” the firm correctly explains.

Of course, one might wonder what reason Apple provided for the termination. And here, you may be shocked to discover that it’s because Epic Games publicly criticized Apple’s proposed DMA compliance plan, citing two Twitter posts by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney. (Here and here.) So this is literally about censorship: “Apple is retaliating against Epic for speaking out against Apple’s unfair and illegal practices, just as they’ve done to other developers time and time again.”

“The DMA was designed to eliminate the very power imbalance that Apple is proving exists today,” the Epic Games announcement continues. “[But Apple] claims to have total control to block competing stores and apps. We will continue to fight to bring true competition and choice to iOS devices in Europe and around the world.”

Epic Games also published the correspondence between it and Apple so that others can see for themselves how Apple behaves. It’s worth reading.