After months of preparation, Epic Games will finally take on Apple in court in a trial that could fundamentally change the makeup of the App Store. The fight dates back to August, when Epic added a direct payment mechanism to its hit battle royale game Fortnite in violation of Apple’s rules. The iPhone maker quickly removed the game from the App Store, and Epic responded shortly after with an antitrust lawsuit aiming to establish the App Store as a monopoly. The case will finally be brought to trial starting May 3rd.
The trial promises to deliver huge revelations about the inner workings of one of the biggest and most influential companies in the world, with testimony from Apple CEO Tim Cook, Craig Federighi, Phil Schiller, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney, and more. We’ve already made some fascinating discoveries from documents published ahead of the trial, and there’s sure to be a lot more news ahead.
You can follow along with everything right here.
Jan 29, 2022, 1:19 AM UTCJay Peters
Epic largely lost to Apple, but 35 states are now backing its fight in a higher court
The US also filed an amicus brief, though it was not in support of either party
Jan 20, 2022, 7:47 PM UTCRussell Brandom
Epic pushes to overturn App Store ruling in opening appeal brief
‘Apple’s conduct is precisely what the antitrust laws prohibit,’ Epic argues
Dec 8, 2021, 7:34 PM UTCRussell Brandom
Epic v. Apple ruling put on hold after appeals court grants a stay
Apple can maintain its App Store payment monopoly while the case proceeds
Nov 10, 2021, 1:14 AM UTCAdi Robertson
Judge orders Apple to allow external payment options for App Store by December 9th, denying stay
And Apple announces it will appeal
Oct 8, 2021, 11:21 PM UTCJay Peters and Sean Hollister
Apple is appealing the Epic Games ruling it originally called a ‘resounding victory’
Even though Apple largely won Epic v. Apple, it’s appealing
Sep 22, 2021, 4:30 PM UTCRussell Brandom and Adi Robertson
Apple won’t let Fortnite back on iOS until the Epic v. Apple verdict is final
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney revealed the conversation in a series of tweets
Sep 17, 2021, 5:51 PM UTCAdi Robertson and Zoe Schiffer
Tim Cook tells Apple employees he’s ‘looking forward to moving forward’ after Epic ruling
Epic has said it will appeal the decision
Sep 13, 2021, 4:00 PM UTCRussell Brandom
What comes next for the App Store?
Four big questions raised by the Epic v. Apple ruling
Sep 12, 2021, 3:03 PM UTCAdi Robertson
A comprehensive breakdown of the Epic v. Apple ruling
Whoever lost, we win
Sep 10, 2021, 11:40 PM UTCSean Hollister
Apple and Epic both lost today
Apple stands to lose billions; Epic failed to #FreeFortnite
Sep 10, 2021, 9:09 PM UTCMitchell Clark
Judge says Apple may be ‘stretching the truth’ on Mac malware concerns
Craig Federighi said the Mac’s security wouldn't work on iPhone — the court disagrees
Sep 10, 2021, 7:22 PM UTCDieter Bohn
The Apple App Store: a brief history of major policy changes
The pace of change is quickening even as Apple tries to stop it
Sep 10, 2021, 7:14 PM UTCNilay Patel
The future of the App Store depends on the difference between a ‘button’ and an ‘external link’
A close read of the injunction in Epic v. Apple
Sep 10, 2021, 7:03 PM UTCSean Hollister
Epic will appeal the Epic v. Apple decision
The game company doesn’t consider it a win
Sep 10, 2021, 6:27 PM UTCJacob Kastrenakes
Will Fortnite return to iOS? Probably not any time soon
Epic isn’t happy with the ruling
Sep 10, 2021, 5:02 PM UTCJon Porter
Epic v. Apple judge rules Fortnite’s Peely can appear naked in court
Peely’s ‘just a banana man,’ after all
Sep 3, 2021, 11:00 AM UTCSean Hollister
Eight things Apple could do to prove it actually cares about App Store users
Like hire more than 500 people to police an entire platform
Jul 30, 2021, 6:37 PM UTCJay Peters
Elon Musk calls Apple’s App Store fees a ‘de facto global tax on the Internet’
‘Epic is right.’
May 27, 2021, 2:00 PM UTCRussell Brandom
Nine things we learned from the Epic v. Apple trial
All of the secrets that came out in court
May 25, 2021, 7:07 PM UTCVicki Behringer
A courtroom artist’s view of the Epic v. Apple trial
Eight of the artist’s favorite sketches from the three-week court proceeding
May 24, 2021, 10:10 PM UTCElizabeth Lopatto
Apple stayed on message while Epic filled out the record
In a trial that often asked how to define ‘game,’ the winning argument will hinge on market definition
May 24, 2021, 9:49 PM UTCSean Hollister
Tim Sweeney concludes Epic v. Apple trial by repping fried chicken
I kinda want some, too
May 22, 2021, 3:35 PM UTCAdi Robertson
Tim Cook’s Fortnite trial testimony was unexpectedly revealing
Apple at its most and least idealistic
May 21, 2021, 9:03 PM UTCAdi Robertson
Tim Cook faces harsh questions about the App Store from judge in Fortnite trial
‘Your action wasn’t the result of competition’
May 20, 2021, 1:26 PM UTCAdi Robertson
Apple wants users to trust iOS, but it doesn’t trust iOS users
Craig Federighi says opening up the iPhone is too dangerous
May 19, 2021, 7:42 PM UTCChris Welch
The level of Mac malware is not acceptable, says Apple’s Craig Federighi at Epic trial
Federighi said his own family members have encountered malware on macOS
May 19, 2021, 2:17 PM UTCRussell Brandom and Adi Robertson
Apple asks court to rule iOS is not an ‘essential facility’
‘At trial, Epic adduced no proof in support of this claim’
May 19, 2021, 1:43 AM UTCAdi Robertson
At the Epic trial, Phil Schiller got away clean
On Tuesday, Apple’s chief evangelist finished up his time on the stand
May 18, 2021, 12:41 AM UTCElizabeth Lopatto
Apple’s Phil Schiller gives Epic iPhone testimony
What does ‘locked in’ mean, though?
May 17, 2021, 8:19 PM UTCSean Hollister
Apple wants you to know it chose not to take a cut of $400 billion in physical goods
And it spends $50 million on WWDC
May 14, 2021, 8:54 PM UTCAdi Robertson
Apple said Roblox developers don’t make games, and now Roblox agrees
The word ‘game’ has been replaced by ‘experience’ across Roblox’s website
May 14, 2021, 12:32 AM UTCElizabeth Lopatto
Epic fights Apple in court by playing Candy Crush
Expert testimony continues
May 13, 2021, 1:12 PM UTCAdi Robertson
Apple needs to show iOS allows competition... while justifying locking it down
A deep look into gaming platform apps on iOS
May 12, 2021, 1:20 AM UTCAdi Robertson
Epic v. Apple keeps coming back to the gap between ignorance and inconvenience
Would ending anti-steering rules fix the App Store?
May 11, 2021, 12:45 AM UTCAdi Robertson
Epic and Apple are now fighting over a naked banana
“It’s just a banana, ma’am”
May 8, 2021, 2:07 AM UTCAdi Robertson
Apple is using Itch.io’s ‘offensive and sexualized’ games as a cudgel against Epic
Unspeakable games
May 8, 2021, 1:36 AM UTCElizabeth Lopatto
In Epic v Apple, everybody is losing at the game of defining games
Is Roblox a game or not?
May 7, 2021, 3:50 PM UTCRussell Brandom
After Xbox testimony, Apple tells Microsoft to put up or shut up
A new motion seeks to pull back testimony from Xbox executive Lori Wright
May 7, 2021, 1:31 AM UTCAdi Robertson
Epic needs to tarnish Apple’s App Store halo
How does Apple earn its 30 percent?
May 6, 2021, 11:00 AM UTCDieter Bohn and Tom Warren
Why the bad iPhone web app experience keeps coming up in Epic v. Apple
Safari just doesn’t support key features — and Safari’s the only option
May 6, 2021, 2:11 AM UTCIan Carlos Campbell
Internal emails reveal how badly Apple wanted to keep Netflix using in-app purchases
The streaming service stopped offering subscriptions in the App Store in 2018
May 6, 2021, 1:03 AM UTCAdi Robertson
Epic v. Apple turns into Windows v. Xbox
What is the iPhone, anyway?
May 5, 2021, 1:10 AM UTCAdi Robertson
Epic says there’s an App Store payment lockout — but Apple just sees friction
“What you’re really asking for is the ability to have impulse purchases”
May 4, 2021, 7:53 PM UTCRussell Brandom
Tim Sweeney emailed Tim Cook personally to call for open app sales after WWDC in 2015
‘Is this the guy that was at one of our rehearsals?’ Cook asked
May 4, 2021, 5:19 PM UTCTom Warren
Epic pushed Xbox chief to open free multiplayer just ahead of Apple Fortnite battle
More confidential emails reveal Fortnite inner workings
May 4, 2021, 2:57 PM UTCMakena Kelly
I watched the Epic v. Apple trial on Discord
It was... interesting
May 4, 2021, 1:02 PM UTCTom Warren
Walmart’s unannounced cloud gaming service detailed in confidential Epic emails
Project Storm was being worked on in 2019
May 4, 2021, 11:05 AM UTCJon Porter
Apple exec suggested cutting App Store commission to 20 percent as early as 2011
‘Do we think our 70/30 split will last forever?’
May 4, 2021, 9:16 AM UTCJon Porter
Epic spent at least $11.6 million on free games and gained 5 million new users in return
Over $11.6 million for 38 games
May 4, 2021, 12:28 AM UTCAdi Robertson
Apple antitrust trial kicks off with Tim Sweeney’s metaverse dreams
The Epic Games CEO took the stand for the first day of Epic v. Apple
May 3, 2021, 9:12 PM UTCMitchell Clark
Fortnite made more than $9 billion in revenue in its first two years
New financial figures were revealed as part of Epic Games’ antitrust case against Apple
May 3, 2021, 7:04 PM UTCMitchell Clark
Here are Apple’s and Epic’s full slideshows arguing why they should win at trial
Their arguments in their (and each other’s) words
May 3, 2021, 5:47 PM UTCRussell Brandom
Fortnite is planning skins for LeBron James and The Rock, documents show
An internal presentation also shows plans for a basketball mini-game
May 3, 2021, 3:51 PM UTCTom Warren
The Epic Games v. Apple trial kicks off with kids screaming ‘free Fortnite’
A chaotic start to the proceedings
May 3, 2021, 2:09 PM UTCElizabeth Lopatto
Why Epic is burning its own cash to cook Apple
Follow the money, baby
May 1, 2021, 7:43 PM UTCKim Lyons
Epic-backed expert says Apple’s app store profit is as high as 78 percent
Apple disputes the estimate
May 1, 2021, 12:00 PM UTCTom Warren
Microsoft’s app store changes crank up the Apple pressure
The Windows store changes are about more than games
Apr 30, 2021, 2:06 PM UTCAdi Robertson
Next week’s Fortnite trial could upend Apple’s App Store model — even if Epic loses
Epic will put Apple’s business under a microscope
Apr 29, 2021, 1:00 PM UTCTom Warren
Microsoft shakes up PC gaming by reducing Windows store cut to just 12 percent
Microsoft puts the pressure on Valve’s Steam store
Apr 28, 2021, 7:30 PM UTCAdi Robertson
Here’s who Apple and Epic are calling to testify in next week’s trial
Tim Cook, Tim Sweeney, and many more
Apr 28, 2021, 6:55 PM UTCJay Peters
Fortnite’s cash cow is PlayStation, not iOS, court documents reveal
New court documents show consoles are huge for Fortnite
Apr 28, 2021, 4:56 PM UTCTom Warren
Fortnite isn’t on Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming service because Epic won’t allow it
Epic Games exec reveals why Fortnite isn’t on xCloud
Apr 27, 2021, 8:52 PM UTCRussell Brandom
Eddy Cue wanted to bring iMessage to Android in 2013
‘Do we want to lose one of the most important apps in a mobile environment to Google?’
Apr 22, 2021, 2:00 PM UTCTom Warren and Jay Peters
Epic Games Store expands to carry Windows apps like Brave and Discord
Epic is providing an alternative to Microsoft’s app store
Apr 13, 2021, 12:55 AM UTCJay Peters and Sean Hollister
Three reasons why Epic Games can give away $17.5 billion worth of games for free
To start with, Tim Sweeney has revealed it’s not paying per copy
Apr 10, 2021, 1:59 PM UTCKim Lyons
Epic antitrust case versus Apple in Australia gets three-month stay
A judge temporarily suspended the case in Australia as the US trial is set to begin in May
Apr 9, 2021, 8:27 AM UTCJon Porter
Apple says iMessage on Android ‘will hurt us more than help us’
Epic argues it’s part of Apple’s lock-in strategy
Mar 22, 2021, 7:21 PM UTCSean Hollister
Apple’s 20-year head of developer relations retires ahead of Epic App Store trial
Ron Okamoto helped build the App Store, and he may be deposed
Mar 20, 2021, 6:52 AM UTCSean Hollister
Apple and Epic’s top execs plan to testify live and in person this May in the Fortnite app store trial
Tim Cook, Phil Schiller, Craig Federighi and more
Mar 10, 2021, 3:34 PM UTCNick Statt
Epic expands app store fight even further with new legal claim against Google in Australia
Epic is now fighting Apple and Google in the EU, US, UK, and Australia
Feb 19, 2021, 6:25 PM UTCJay Peters
Apple lawyers are fighting for Steam sales data on hundreds of games
Apple is asking for extensive data on about 436 games
Feb 17, 2021, 10:30 AM UTCJon Porter
Epic Games brings Apple fight to the EU with new antitrust complaint
Following action taken in the US, UK, and Australia
Feb 16, 2021, 10:03 PM UTCNick Statt
Apple won’t have to allow App Store alternatives on iOS after North Dakota bill fails
The bill failed in a 11-36 vote on Tuesday
Dec 17, 2020, 5:30 PM UTCJay Peters
Epic Games Store now offers Spotify, signaling app store ambitions beyond just games
Epic is in prolonged battles with Apple and Google over their app store business models
Nov 18, 2020, 2:58 PM UTCNick Statt
Apple’s biggest App Store critics are not impressed with its new fee cut for small developers
Epic and Spotify say the cut only proves their point that the App Store is unfair
