Fortnite creator Epic Games has taken its fight against Apple to European Union antitrust regulators, ramping up it dispute with the iPhone maker over its App Store payment system and control over app downloads.
The two companies have been locked in a legal dispute since last August, when the game maker tried to avoid Appleās 30% fee on some in-app purchases on the App Store by launching its own in-app payment system.
That prompted Apple to kick Epicās Fortnite game off the App Store and threaten to terminate an affiliated account that would have effectively blocked distribution of Unreal Engine, a software tool used by hundreds of app makers to create games.
Epic Games founder and Chief Executive Tim Sweeney said Appleās control of its platform had tilted the level playing field.
āThe 30% they charge as their app tax, they can make it 50% or 90% or 100%. Under their theory of how these markets are structured, they have every right to do that,ā he told reporters.
āEpic is not asking any court or regulator to change this 30% to some other number, only to restore competition on IOS,ā he said, referring to Appleās mobile operating system.
The company also accused Apple of barring rivals from launching their own gaming subscription service on its platform by preventing them from bundling several games together, even though its own Apple Arcade service does that.
Apple said its rules applied equally to all developers and that Epic had violated them.
āIn ways a judge has described as deceptive and clandestine, Epic enabled a feature in its app, which was not reviewed or approved by Apple, and they did so with the express intent of violating the App Store guidelines that apply equally to every developer and protect customers,ā the company said in a statement.
āTheir reckless behaviour made pawns of customers, and we look forward to making this clear to the European Commission,ā it said.
Apple has been taking small steps in recent months towards changing its practices, including lower fees for some developers and giving them a way to challenge its rulings, both of which have not satisfied the companyās critics.
The Commission, which is investigating Appleās mobile payment system Apple Pay and the App Store, confirmed receipt of the complaint.
āWe will assess it based on our standard procedures,ā a Commission spokeswoman said.
Epic Games has also complained to the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal and to the Australian watchdog.
Big companies such as Microsoft Corp, Spotify and Match Group Inc have also criticised Appleās App Store fees and rules.