Epic Games Launches Reward Program to Lure Gamers Away from Apple’s App Store with 20% Cash Back
Epic Games is aggressively challenging Apple's App Store dominance with a new reward program, offering gamers a compelling incentive to bypass Apple's payment system. This initiative, which gives users 20% back in Epic Rewards on in-app purchases, is a direct response to recent legal rulings and highlights the ongoing battle between Epic and Apple over App Store fees.
Starting now, when players use Epic's payment system for in-app purchases in popular games like Fortnite, Rocket League, and Fall Guys, they'll receive 20% of their spending back in Epic Rewards. This offer isn't limited to the App Store; users on PC, Android, and the web will also benefit from the same generous reward. The reward balance is credited 14 days after the purchase and can be redeemed within Epic’s games or on the Epic Games Store.
This move follows a legal victory for Epic. A federal judge ruled that Apple had violated a previous 2021 injunction requiring the iPhone maker to allow developers to direct users to alternative payment systems, thus evading Apple's hefty 30% fees. While Apple subsequently charged a 27% commission on external payments and displayed "scare screens" discouraging users from using third-party payment systems, the judge criticized Apple for consistently choosing anti-competitive options.
Epic's strategy is clear: incentivize players to spend money directly with them rather than through Apple's App Store. For Fortnite, Apple typically takes a 30% cut of every V-Bucks purchase. By offering 20% back in rewards, Epic retains a larger portion of the revenue and fosters loyalty within its ecosystem, as the rewards can only be spent on the Epic Games Store (excluding subscriptions).
PC gamers already enjoying a 20% discount on all Epic Games Store purchases have until August 31 to capitalize on that limited-time incentive. On iOS, players purchasing V-Bucks are now presented with the choice of using the App Store or Epic's payment systems, clearly highlighting the potential rewards offered by the latter.
Console players on PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch won't have the direct option to pay Epic when buying V-Bucks on those platforms. However, they can still use the Fortnite web shop to earn the 20% cash back.
The timing of this change coincides with the arrival of Mace Windu in the Fortnite item shop, potentially driving increased spending and further amplifying the impact of Epic's reward program. This could result in some significant savings for players looking to spend in the store this evening.
Will Epic's aggressive strategy successfully draw gamers away from the App Store, or will Apple find ways to counter this competitive move? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
