iPhone With Fortnite Installed Is Selling At Rs 13.5 Lakh Online
Since Apple banned Fortnite app from App Store, people are trying to make a quick buck.
Fortnite has since long dominated the gaming industry for its battle royale action.
Reuters
During this reign, the produce by Epic Games has faced many challenges and the most recent one was its removal from the Apple App Store. iPhone users are now seeing this as a chance to cash in.
Now that the Fortnite game is not available for Apple users to download, iPhones that already have the game installed are being auctioned online. Popular trading site eBay is seeing an increasing number of listings of such iPhones, with prices reaching as high as USD 18,000 or Rs 13.5 lakh.
Compared to a regular version of iPhone available on the market, this price is almost 18 times higher. The existing market price of the iPhone 11 Pro Max is listed to be USD 1099.
Download Fortnite app
(Image: Fortnite)
The listers are trying to cash in on the unavailability of one of the most sought after games on the App Store. Fortnite was pulled down from the App Store earlier this month by the Cupertino based tech giant.
The ban on the App Store was implemented after a Fortnite update let players buy in-game currency directly from maker Epic Games at a lower rate. In essence, purchases made this way completely bypassed Apple.
Apple, which takes a standard 30 percent cut of sales from its compulsory payment system, hence banned the app. Minutes after, Epic filed a legal complaint against Apple for the action.
While Google has also removed the app from the Play Store, it remains available on Android devices through other sources like APK installations. Apple devices, however, do not allow such third party app installations.
iPhone with Fortnite installed
One of the listings of Fortnite installed iPhones on eBay.
While it is true that there is no other way to play Fortnite on Apple iPhones other than the devices on which it is already installed, the fact of the matter is that the game is still available on all the leading gaming platforms, including the likes of PS4 and XBOX.
Considering that the price of the PS4 in the US starts at USD 299 or Rs 22,400, it makes no sense whatsoever for anyone to pay the exorbitant amount being asked for Fortnite installed iPhones.
Thankfully, gamers realise this and such prices are not being entertained and still have zero bids. Other, saner listings have attracted a few bids.
The Epic vs Apple battle
The shocking listings are just a side story of a full scale war between the tech giants. The direct attack by Epic Games on the monopoly of both Apple and Google seems to be a well planned one, that might not be sorted out just as quickly.
That is because the game developer is asking Apple to change its policies for every app. It wants Apple to lessen its 30 percent cut from the in-app purchases on every app on App Store. Apple, of course, is not ready just yet.
Accusing Apple of antitrust violations, the legal lawsuit by Epic Games was not the only attack directed towards Apple. It also came up with the video (seen above) announcing its retaliation against App Store Monopoly and urged the viewers to #FreeFortnite from this.
