Fortnite Banned By Google and Apple, Can PUBG: M Be the Next One

Something serious has happened in the mobile gaming industry. Fortnite has been removed from Google Playstore and from the Apple App Store. Apps being banned from app stores is not an uncommon phenomenon but the reason why Fortnite was removed is actually very controversial. Fortnite is a BR game that Epic games own and publishes across multiple platforms from PC and consoles to Nintendo. For the longest time, Epic Games did not want to bring Fortnite on Google Playstore since Google has a policy that any game which is published on its app store has to do all the transactions via Google, and that included in-app purchases made by players. Now here is where the problem starts. Epic Games publishes Fortnite across multiple platforms and basically ports the game. So Fortnite on mobile devices is the same Fortnite that you see on PC or consoles. When a game that is as big as Fortnite has to publish the Android version of the game on Google play store it does create some issues and also puts Epic Games at a disadvantage.

The story caught traction when Apple also removed Fortnite from its App Store and that too for the same reason.  Both Google and Apple want Epic Games to make in-app transactions via its system which Epic games did not take well. Epic Games has launched a massive online campaign calling to the players of the game and to the mobile gaming community. Alongside that, there is going to be a massive lawsuit. This is a huge turning point for the mobile gaming world. The online campaign is using the #FreeFortnite to make the voice of players all over world be heard.

Epic Games has defied the App Store Monopoly. In retaliation, Apple is blocking Fortnite from a billion devices.



Visit https://t.co/K3S07w5uEk and join the fight to stop 2020 from becoming "1984" https://t.co/tpsiCW4gqK

— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) August 13, 2020

Now coming back to why this may even affect PUBG Mobile. Tencent has a massive stake in Epic Games. PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, and even Fortnite are all connected to Tencent in some way or the other. PUBG Mobile has a massive online user base and is one of the most successful mobile games ever made. Now many are saying that the move to remove Fortnite from these app stores has something to do with the fact that Tencent games have a huge stake in Epic games. PUBG Mobile has probably the most online in-app purchases and is one of the most successful product for all parties involved. Now if Epic Games take Apple and Google to court and actually win the lawsuit then no mobile game has to use Google or Apple to make the in-app transactions.  It remains to be seen how all this pans out but for the time being one thing is certain, Epic Games is no pushover. It is an actual battle royal of the giants.