By: Sarah Thomas
A legal battle between two of the biggest video game developers in the world is about to begin, and it will have a serious impact on the industry. Valve and Riot Games will be battling over patents that cover technology that allows them to create multiplayer games on PCs. It’s a very interesting case, and I hope that it ends in a settlement, rather than a lawsuit.
By: Sarah Thomas
Epic Games
If you’re a consumer of mobile video games, you’ve probably heard of Apple and Epic Games. They are two of the biggest and most powerful players in the industry. But their relationship is causing some headaches for both companies.
As you might have guessed, a legal battle is brewing between these two titans of the gaming world. However, this fight isn’t as cut and dry as it might appear. In fact, a legal challenge between these two powerhouses could last for five years, if not longer.
To start, Apple claims that the App Store has a monopoly on the mobile market. This is based on its pricing and policies, which are geared to keep it in the driver’s seat. For example, the store charges developers a 30% commission on the first year of a subscription, though the fees rise to 15% the following years.
On the other hand, Epic Games claims that Apple’s App Store is anti-competitive, which is why the company is trying to force changes to the store’s anti-steering provisions.
Riot Games
Epic Games and Apple are in the middle of a legal battle of epic proportions. They are vying for control of the App Store. And a court ruling could put a dent in both companies’ future.
Epic’s lawsuit is focused on the in-app purchase commission. It claims Apple misused market power to lessen competition and hinder innovation. But it’s not clear whether Epic is even abiding by the guidelines of the App Store.
On February 22, the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) slapped a stop on Epic’s January 14 complaint. The lawsuit is still pending, but a CAT decision could prove pivotal to the appeal.
At the same time, Epic urged the court to make the case a “duty to deal” situation. That is, it wants Apple to give Epic license to use intellectual property within its games. However, it has not yet filed a suit against Microsoft or Sony.
The coalition for app fairness is a pro-Epic effort. Not only did it create an online platform to advertise its lawsuit, it also tapped into a number of other developers’ ideas.
NetEase
A legal battle is brewing between two gaming giants. Chinese tech giant NetEase is facing a lawsuit filed by Korean company PUBG Corp. The dispute involves NetEase’s two mobile games Hyper Front and Valorant.
Both games have a lot of similarities, with the most common complaint being the use of weapon stats and skins. Additionally, the lawsuits also cite character designs and maps. These are similar to the games produced by Blizzard Activision, the California-based gaming publisher behind titles like World of Warcraft and Overwatch.
In late November, NetEase started testing a cloud gaming service. However, the service only supports a limited number of gameplay slots per game. This could mean the company will need to host the service on a larger platform.
After the service launched, it received a cold reception from gamers. Some said it was difficult to understand how it worked.
As a result of the complaints, NetEase modified the service. This modification added a new feature allowing players to adjust the quality of graphics to suit their internet connection. It also allowed users to disable notifications.
Valve
Epic Games and Apple are at the center of a legal battle over their App Store policies. The two gaming giants are arguing over whether Apple is in violation of antitrust laws. Ultimately, a judge will decide the matter. However, the legal battle will be ongoing for years.
Epic Games’ complaint is based on the premise that Apple is using market power to drive up prices on its apps. Specifically, Apple wants Epic to pay a 30 percent commission for in-app purchases. Other parties are weighing in on the fight.
While Epic’s lawsuit is primarily about the in-app purchase commission, the litigation also touches on issues such as Apple’s “30% Apple Tax.” According to the lawsuit, Apple is attempting to force Epic to change its business model.
Apple’s requests to Epic included historical sales data and sales of external products. It also asked for yearly advertising revenues and the annual revenues of Steam.
