Battle Royale Inbetween Apple and EPIC - to terminate dev accounts that affects the Unreal Engine

Apple threatens to remove EPIC from the developer program. Earlier on w reported that Apple single sidely removed Fornite from the Apply Store distribution platform. 

Apple is now terminating inclusion in the Apple Developer Program, a membership that is required to distribute applications on iOS devices or use Apple development tools, if the company does not comply to their agreement within two weeks, according to a letter from Apple that was shared by Epic. Epic will also not be able to approve Mac applications, a process that could make it difficult to install Epic software or block it entirely. Apple requires that all applications be approved before they can run on newer versions of macOS, even if they are distributed outside of the App Store.

Fortnite was pulled from the App Store (and Google Play Store) last week. Epic Games added a new option that allows players outside of Apple to purchase in-game digital extras. In doing so, the company violated the rules of the App Store.

Epic has filed a preliminary injunction against Apple, asking the court to stop the company from doing this. Epic says there will be "irreparably damaged long before the final judgment" if it doesn't get the court order. "Apple's actions will irreparably damage Epic's reputation among Fortnite users and will be catastrophic for the future of the independent Unreal Engine business," Epic writes.

Apple said it would like to keep Epic as part of the Apple Developer Program and that Epic could easily fix the problem it created for itself by bringing Fortnite back into line with the terms. "We are not making an exception for Epic because we don't think it is right to prioritize their business purposes over the guidelines that protect our customers."

Epic now further cites that Apple CEO Tim Cook declared to the US Congress two weeks ago that Apple does not retaliate against developers who express their frustration with the App Store. "Apple is now doing just that," said Epic.