Microsoft Allows Epic, Amazon in App Store

Microsoft’s app store may have a leg up on Apple’s after announcing that Epic Games, Amazon, and eventually other firms will integrate their app stores into its marketplace.

The technology giant says it wants to “promote innovation” and will not take a cut from app developers’ revenue if they use alternative payment platforms — a major difference from Apple, which takes commissions between 15% and 30% on each App Store purchase.

One caveat: The rule applies to everything except games. However, the company did lower its cut of game revenues in the Microsoft Store from 30% to 12% for PC games in August.

Epic has been in a legal battle with Apple for the past year after Apple removed “Fortnite” when Epic created an alternative in-app payment method — dodging Apple’s fees.

While the judge ruled earlier this month that Apple engaged in anticompetitive behavior, it wasn’t considered a win for Epic.

• The developer still had to pay $3.65 million for 30% of revenue to Apple.
• Apple was not required to restore Epic’s “Fortnite” to the App Store, allow third-party app stores, or lower its developer fees of 15% for companies with annual revenue under $1 million and 30% for everyone else.
• Epic has since appealed the ruling.

“Microsoft is again leading the industry forward with Windows, now an open platform with an open store,” Epic CEO Tim Sweeney tweeted.