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Epic Games Locks Horns With Google And Apple In A Lawsuit Over Fortnite

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Epic Games Locks Horns With Google And Apple In A Lawsuit Over Fortnite

Google and Apple combined are responsible for providing a platform for downloading applications and are also the market leaders for app stores.  Almost every developer launches their app either on the Google Play Store and/or the Apple App Store, so that consumers and customers can see their products or services.  There are 2.8 million android applications available on the Google Play Store while the Apple App Store has close to 1.3 million apps available for its users in early 2020.

A popular game, Fortnite was removed from both Apple and Google platforms over ambiguity in the way Fortnite developer Epic Games conducted payments inside the gaming app.  This led to Epic Games filing lawsuits against both Apple and Google for banning Fortnite from their platforms.  Fortnite is one of the biggest battle royale games in the world right now and there are over 250 million Fortnite players in the world.  

Unfolding of the ban:

Fortnite’s latest game update offered all players a 20% discount on its in-game currency V-bucks,  but only if they paid Epic Games directly rather than using Apple or Google’s payment systems.  This did not sit well with Google and Apple as both platforms take a standard 30% of purchases on their app stores.  It also meant Epic Games broke the rules applying to both the stores.

Apple proceeded to remove Epic Games from their platform leaving ios users with no way to install the game.  Epic games released a video mocking Apple with a television themes advert similar to the one Apple used in their 1984 Super Bowl commercial.

A few hours later after the Apple ban, Fortnite vanished from the Google Play Store, as well.

What is the lawsuit

Documents available in the public domain through the United States court records system show Epic Games filed a complaint against Google in a California court, just as it did against Apple.  The lawsuit highlights Google’s motto which was once “Don’t be evil.”  Epic Games said “Google has relegated its motto to nearly an afterthought, and is using its size to do evil upon competitors, innovators, customers, and users in a slew of markets it has grown to monopolise (sic.)”

The lawsuit further goes on to describe a deal that Epic Games had reached with phone maker OnePlus to make its games available ‘seamlessly’ on their devices.  Epic Games said “But Google forced OnePlus to renege on the deal, citing Google’s ‘particular concern’ about Epic having the ability to install and update mobile games while ‘bypassing the Google Play Store (sic.)”

What is Epic Games looking for?

Epic Games says it wants the mobile app stores to be fairer for all developers.  Epic Games also highlights that it is not seeking a compensation payout or more favourable deal for itself.  However, they state any reduction in the 30% cut charged by both Apple and Google will help Epic Games favourably.  

 

Google said “The open Android ecosystem lets developers distribute apps through multiple app stores.  For game developers who choose to use the Play Store, we have consistent policies that are fair to developers and keep the store safe for users.  While Fortnite remains available on Android, we can no longer make it available on Play because it violates our policies (sic.)”

Apple said in a statement “Epic has had apps on the App Store for a decade, and have benefited from the App Store ecosystem – including its tools, testing, and distribution that Apple provides to all developers.  Epic agreed to the App Store terms and guidelines freely and we’re glad they’ve built such a successful business on the App Store. The fact that their business interests now lead them to push for a special arrangement does not change the fact that these guidelines create a level playing field for all developers and make the store safe for all users (sic.)”  It also said  “We will make every effort to work with Epic to resolve these violations so they can return Fortnite to the App Store (sic.)”

It will be interesting to watch the outcome of the lawsuit filed by Epic Games and if the courts will rule in the favour of a fairer market or in the favour of existing market rules.

 

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Imarticus Learning Acquires MyCaptain for INR 50 Crore to Boost Non-Tech Upskilling

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My Captain

Imarticus Learning, an IPO-bound professional education firm, has acquired Bengaluru-based edtech platform MyCaptain for INR 50 crore in a cash-and-stock deal. This marks Imarticus’s fourth acquisition in four years and is aimed at expanding its presence in non-tech career training, especially across India’s Tier-II and Tier-III cities. MyCaptain, which has over 500,000 learners and a revenue of ₹27 crore for FY25, specializes in creative and entrepreneurial fields, with 60% of its users from smaller cities.

 

With this acquisition, Imarticus will bring MyCaptain’s employability bootcamps in digital marketing, design, and content to its 20+ classroom centers in 16 cities, blending online and offline learning. MyCaptain will operate as a fully-owned subsidiary, and all 250 of its employees will join Imarticus, expanding the combined workforce to over 850. The move supports Imarticus’s goal to reach five million learners by FY28 and deepen its offerings in non-tech domains.

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Kingdom of Innovation: Saudi Arabia Tops Global Startup Growth Rankings for 2025

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StartupStories

Saudi Arabia has been named the fastest-growing startup ecosystem in the world in the 2025 StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Index, with a growth rate exceeding 200%—the only country in the global top 100 to achieve this milestone. This surge has earned the Kingdom the “Country of the Year” title, highlighting its transformation into a global innovation leader.

The report ranks 110 countries and 1,400 cities, with three Saudi cities—led by Riyadh—making the global top 1,000. Riyadh entered the world’s top 100 startup cities, posting a 134% growth rate, and solidifying its role as a regional tech hub.

Saudi Arabia now leads globally in HealthTech, nanotechnology, and transport tech, and ranks among the top in sectors like fintech, e-commerce, logistics, and gaming. The Kingdom’s rapid progress is fueled by Vision 2030, robust government support, and record venture capital investment, making it the most funded VC market in MENA.

Startups such as Tabby, Tamara, and Jahez exemplify this momentum, as Saudi Arabia emerges as a top destination for innovation and entrepreneurship.

 

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SC Grants Relief to Paytm’s First Games, Stays Massive GST Notice

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StartupStories

The Supreme Court of India has granted interim relief to Paytm’s gaming arm, First Games, by staying proceedings on a ₹5,712 crore GST notice issued by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI). The notice, sent in April 2025, demanded GST for the period January 2018 to March 2023, based on the department’s view that 28% GST should be levied on the total entry amount, rather than the 18% GST currently paid on platform fees.

First Games challenged the notice in the Supreme Court, which on May 23, 2025, ordered a stay on all further proceedings until a final decision is reached. The dispute is part of a broader industry-wide debate over the correct GST treatment for real money gaming platforms, with similar cases pending before the court. Following the stay, Paytm shares rose nearly 2% in early trading, reflecting investor optimism.

The Supreme Court’s order provides temporary relief to First Games and signals ongoing judicial scrutiny of GST demands across India’s online gaming sector.

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