In what looks like a ceasefire between Fortnite creator Epic Games and Apple, the popular co-op sandbox shooter will be returning to iOS devices—but with a caveat. This comes as a surprise considering the fraught history between Apple and Epic that resulted in Fortnite being banned from the Apple Store only three months ago, but it seems Nvidia has found a loophole.
When Fortnite released in 2017, it took the gaming world by storm. It was released on nearly every major platform, including on mobile via iOS and Android. But the relationship between Epic Games and mobile giant Apple was tense from the get-go, especially when it came to Apple’s 30% fee from in-app purchases. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney accused Apple of being a “monopoly” more concerned with its profits than with player security. Meanwhile, Apple accused the developers of wanting a “free ride.” In the first shot in what would erupt into an ongoing legal war between the studio and Apple, Epic Games announced Epic Direct, which would offer players the chance to pay for in-game V-bucks directly, bypassing the Apple Store entirely, at a 20% discount. Apple swiftly removed Fortnite from the Apple Store and banned it for what is promised to be at least a year. While Epic Games immediately turned around and filed a lawsuit against Apple, the banning and resulting legal dispute meant users who played Fortnite on iOS were effectively out of luck.
However, that’s where Nvidia comes in. According to the BBC, Nvidia has developed a new version of its GeForce Now cloud gaming service that is compatible with iOS’s web browser, Safari. While Apple doesn’t allow third parties to install apps or games on its devices, it has no such restrictions on its browsers. GeForce Now, which is currently the only cloud gaming service to host Fortnite, would effectively allow iOS players to circumvent Apple’s ban and play the game on their own devices again, with Apple receiving nothing.
Of course, iOS users shouldn’t be rejoicing just yet. There are still a few minor technical issues that, in a game like Fortnite where split-second decisions are key, can severely affect the user experience. Cloud streaming means there’s a potential for lag, even with fast connections, because player commands and graphics are processed on remote servers. Additionally, GeForce’s basic tier service only allows the game to be streamed for an hour at a time, which means players will have to subscribe to a paying tier in order to play for longer.
These minor quibbles likely won’t put off any loyal Fortnite players who are still reeling from not being able to play the game on iOS devices, though. GeForce Now and Epic Games certainly stand to benefit from the 116 million Fortnite players who were dumped by Apple. However, it’s Sweeney who’s likely the most excited about the new GeForce Now, considering the company’s ongoing debate with Apple.
Source: BBC Tech
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