Here's Why Apple terminated Epic Games Sweden's developer account

In what appears to be a retaliation for being spoken against, Apple on Wednesday terminated Epic Games Sweden's developer account globally because of untrustworthy attitude towards the development of a third-party app marketplace on iOS devices. 

The lawyers representing Apple stated in a letter sent to Epic Games that the game-making firm proved to be "verifiably untrustworthy." 

Meanwhile, the games company has termed the suspension a “serious violation” of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act — a recent law implemented to regulate big tech companies like Apple. The company was of the view that the account dismissal “shows Apple has no intention of allowing true competition on iOS devices.” 

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Epic games claims that its Sweden's developer account was meant to be used as a launchpad for the Epic Games Store — its independent app market place for iOS which would have brought the Fortnite app back to the iPhone. Starting with iOS 17.4 — the move comes only three weeks after the iPhone maker green lit Epic Games Sweden AB developer account.

Reason behind Epic Games developer account suspension

What allowed courts to grant us the right to suspend Epic Games developer account, Apple says, is the games company's violations of its contractual obligations, allowing Apple to terminate "any or all of Epic Games' wholly owned subsidiaries, affiliates, and/or other entities under Epic Games' control at any time and at Apple's sole discretion."

Moreover, Apple says it's not sure if Epic will stand compliance with the Apple Developer Program's terms and conditions in the future.

Epic Games said, "In terminating Epic's developer account, Apple is taking out one of the largest potential competitors to the Apple App Store. They are undermining our ability to be a viable competitor and they are showing other developers what happens when you try to compete with Apple or are critical of their unfair practices."

Epic alleges that Apple suspended its Swedish developer account partly because of Epic CEO Tim Sweeney's public criticism of Apple's proposed Digital Markets Act compliance plans.

In 2020, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store on the iPhone after Epic introduced a direct payment option in the app for the in-game currency V-Bucks, in defiance of the App Store rules.