Microsoft has joined the court battle between Apple and Epic Games, filing a legal brief supporting the Fortnite developer’s right to carry on developing software for Mac and iOS while the case continues. fortnite microsoft

For the second time this month, Microsoft is speaking out publicly against Apple’s actions toward third-party developers, making a statement of support for Epic’s Unreal Engine in the game technology company’s lawsuit against the iPad and iPhone maker.

The submission, signed by Kevin Gammill, the executive in charge of supporting developers on Microsoft’s Xbox console, is further evidence that the lawsuit over in-app purchases in Fortnite is set to become a proxy war over the future of the App Store.

“Epic Games’ Unreal Engine is a critical technology for numerous game creators including Microsoft,” Gammill wrote. “Apple’s discontinuation of Epic’s ability to develop and support Unreal Engine for iOS or macOS will harm game creators and gamers.”

Microsoft previously spoke out against Apple’s App Store policies, saying it would not be able to bring its game subscription services to Apple devices because of the associated rules and restrictions.

‘Fortnite’ August 27 update will not work on Apple iOS

In its first statement since Monday’s captivating hearing, this morning Epic Games sought to further clarify its position against Apple while also admitting that the latest chapter of Fortnite would not be appearing on either iOS or macOS when it launches August 27.

Unlike the Android operating system, Apple does not allow side-loading of apps, or installing apps from anywhere but the App Store on iOS devices. This allows Apple to review every single app for malicious code or anything else that could hurt the user in some way. It might seem like an extreme approval process, but it also helps protect the data of users that otherwise unscrupulous developers might hoover up. Unfortunately, while secure it also forces consumers and developers to only use Apple’s App Store. That’s where the issue lies.

As it continues in its statement, Epic believes that mobile device owners have “the right” to install apps from sources of their choosing, and developers should have the right to “compete in a fair marketplace.” Unfortunately for developers, when it comes to paid apps or apps that offer paid transactions within the app, Apple’s App Store policies become a whole new nightmare.

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