Epic Games recently celebrated a significant legal victory against Apple, providing a favorable backdrop for its latest announcements aimed at supporting developers and enhancing the gaming experience. Following a court ruling that found Apple in violation of antitrust practices, Epic unveiled two major changes to its Games Store. First, Epic announced that it will not charge developers for their initial $1,000,000 in revenue per app annually. After surpassing this threshold, the revenue split will revert to the standard 88% for developers and 12% for Epic.
This adjustment will come into effect in June, allowing developers to retain more of their earnings, particularly beneficial for smaller studios aiming to grow without facing high commission fees. In a move that further emphasizes its competitive stance against Apple, Epic plans to introduce webshops for developers within the Games Store app. This feature will provide a more cost-effective alternative for developers looking to bypass the hefty fees associated with in-app purchases charged by both the App Store and Google Play Store. Epic’s announcement indicates that webshops will be accessible on any platform that permits it, including iOS in regions like the European Union and the United States.
These changes are not just beneficial for developers. They also aim to enhance the gaming experience for players. Consumers who make purchases through the webshops will earn 5% in Epic Rewards, which could encourage spending and potentially lower prices due to reduced fees for developers. Previously, Epic struggled to entice developers to distribute their games outside mainstream mobile marketplaces, but these recent changes, along with the court’s decision, could position Epic as a more attractive option for developers in the future.
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