Microsoft Sees Opening for Your Xbox App Purchases Following Fortnite's iOS Return

Now that Fortnite is back on iOS with Apple's approval of the game, Microsoft is jumping in to try to extend its ability to sell games on the platform through its Xbox app. Microsoft on Tuesday filed an amicus brief in district court in support of Fortnite publisher Epic Games, saying that Apple has "stymied" its efforts to sell games through its mobile Xbox app on iOS. The brief reads, in part: The district court's injunction allows Apple to maintain its in-app exclusivity but at least should have enabled Microsoft to offer consumers a workable solution by launching its own online store — accessible via link-out — for in-app items to be purchased off-app and used in games or other apps. And that is what Microsoft wants to do. But even this solution has been stymied by Apple. Prior to the district court's most recent order, Microsoft had been unable to implement linked-out payments (or even inform customers that alternative purchase methods exist) because of Apple's new anti-steerin ... Read full article.