Tim Sweeney: Last News

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney says Apple's plan to reduce the commission it takes on App Store purchases for small businesses may be good for those companies but is "not awesome for consumers." Sweeney's company, which is behind popular online game Fortnite, has been locked in a heated legal battle with Apple over its in-app payment system, which it believes is restrictive for developers and customers. After flouting Apple's in-app purchase system earlier this year, Fortnite was banned from the App Store.

Dade Hayes Finance EditorTim Sweeney, founder and CEO of Epic Games, continued his attacks on Apple and Google for the 30% share of app sales they take from his company and other app developers.“Apple is a monopoly and it’s not just a matter of a distributor charging a commission,” Sweeney said at the New York Times DealBook Online Summit, a rare public appearance during which he also touched on topics like financial models, COVID-19, virtual events and the future of gaming. “By excluding all competitors, they’re inflating prices for consumers and they’re excluding choice and breaking the fundamental mechanisms that keep an economy in balance.” Epic is in the midst of a rancorous lawsuit filed in August against both Apple and Google.

Fortnite maker Epic Games on Friday revealed the acquisition of SuperAwesome, a technology platform that allows developers to create safer digital experiences for children on the internet. Used by brands such as Lego, Hasbro, Sega and Nintendo, London-based SuperAwesome offers tools and parental consent management services for safe engagement through apps, games and services.

Sony has made a $250 million investment to acquire a minority stake in Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite and the Unreal Engine used increasingly in Hollywood production.