Apple, Epic, and App Store cash: What did Apple give, and what is it keeping?

When you generate economic activity on an iPhone, Apple wants a piece. 

That’s not changing in the new App Store review guidelines Apple released this morning. What is changing is that Apple cracked open the door to off-platform purchases.

The question will be whether that applies to everyone, or only smaller developers.

Apple and Epic, makers of the hit game Fortnite, have been locked in a battle over payments. Epic wants all the revenue when players purchase an upgrade or enhancement in its game; Apple wants a 15-30% cut on purchases and subscriptions. After they could not come to terms, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store, as did Google from the Android equivalent, Google Play. 

While the matter is now before the courts, Apple updated the rules that govern the App Store this morning.