UPDATE: Fortnite has also been Google in response.
After Epic Games undercut Apple by implementing its own payment option to Fortnite, the game was banned from the iOS App Store claiming Fortnite violated its of service. Epic Games introduced Epic Direct which allowed players to take advantage of the newly lowered price of V-Bucks while sidestepping Apple's 30% cut of purchases made within the app.
Earlier this morning, Epic Games announced a permanent 20% price reduction to the price of V-Bucks across all platforms. Throwing shade at both Apple and Google, Epic announced Epic Direct and stated that the reasoning for a new payment option was due to the companies' absurd price gouging. Fortnite players who use the mobile app on either iOS or Android devices had the option of paying full price and paying through their devices' respective app service or paying with Epic Direct and saving 20%. Apple, however, did not take too kindly to this.
According to Mark Gurman on Twitter, Fortnite was removed from the Apple App Store due to circumventing Apple's 30% cut of in-app purchases. Apple publicly stated, "Today, Epic Games took the unfortunate step by violating the App Store guidelines that are applied equally to every developer and designed to keep the store safe for our s." Apple went on to state that the Fortnite app had been removed from the store. It also stated that the new Epic Direct payment option was a new feature that was not reviewed or approved prior to it being added to the app, and Apple claimed that Epic Games did so with the intent to violate its of service.
"Epic has had apps on the App Store for a decade, and have benefited from the App Store ecosystem - including it's tools, testing, and distribution that Apple provides to all developers. Epic agreed to the App Store and guidelines freely and we're glad they've built such a successful business on the App Store. The fact that their business interests now lead them to push for a special arrangement does not change the fact that these guidelines create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all s. We will make every effort to work with Epic to resolve these violations so they can return Fortnite to the App Store"
After the announcement of Epic Direct this morning, former Head of Strategy of Amazon Epic Games has filed a suit against Apple in an attempt to end Apple's "unfair and anti-competitive actions."
What seemed like a good move on Fortnite's part has turned into a legal mess, and likely angering Fortnite's mobile community. Google has yet to respond to Epic Games' implementation of Epic Direct on its platform, but it wouldn't be too farfetched to assume the company would follow Apple's lead. However, seeing as Apple is now being sued... maybe its best if Google stays out of the fray for now.
Sources: Epic Games, Mark Gurman, Matthew Ball
