For Epic Games, today’s legal win is a major victory for developers’ ability to explore new types of monetization. Beginning in June, the firm plans to begin implementing a new policy. This change in policy will remove the revenue offset on the first $1 million that each video game grosses per year. This modification follows a recent court ruling holding Apple accountable for anticompetitive practices in its App Store.
Under the new policy, developers can keep 100% of their revenue from games up to the first $1 million. It’s only after crossing this revenue threshold that Epic Games starts to take a cut of sales. This is a HUGE paradigm shift that’s clearly focused on creating a much more welcoming home for developers on the Epic Games Store.
As many readers may know, Epic Games is now engaged in a long and complex litigation with Apple. We’re accusing Apple’s App Store of anticompetitive practices. In 2021, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers issued a landmark ruling that set the matter straight. As she implied, Apple can’t ban developers from directing consumers to purchase digital goods outside of its ecosystem. This game-changing ruling has established the gold standard for all digital marketplaces. It puts developers in control of their own sales strategy.
Epic Games has welcomed this ruling with open arms, publicly framing itself as the hero of developers’ rights. We’re thrilled that this company continues to go big with its plans! In addition, they will permit developers to instruct players to purchase items from online stores on any platform that supports such transactions. This means more opportunities for iOS users in the European Union and the United States.
“With new legal rulings in place, developers will be able to send players from games to make digital purchases from webshops on any platform that allows it, including iOS in the European Union and United States,” – Epic Games
Epic’s gradient-heavy design makes the Epic Games Store immediately recognizable. This new visual identity is meant to reinforce the company’s focus on being an innovative, developer-first company. Today, Epic Games announced they’re eliminating the financial burden for games that made under $1 million. This move is an effort to get more developers onto its platform and enhance its brand image as a neutral marketplace of choice.