In the latest development of the ongoing Epic vs Apple saga, a significant ruling may force Apple to abandon its controversial 30% commission on external payment links outside the App Store. This decision marks a pivotal moment in the legal battle that began when Epic Games' CEO, Tim Sweeney, allowed Fortnite players to make in-app purchases directly from Epic Games at a substantial discount, bypassing Apple's payment system.

The ruling stipulates that Apple can no longer impose fees on purchases made outside of apps, restrict developers' ability to format or place links to external sites, limit the use of 'calls to action' like banners that highlight potential savings, exclude certain apps or developers, or use 'scare screens' to deter users from leaving the App Store. Instead, Apple must use 'neutral messaging' to inform users that they are navigating to a third-party site.

While Epic Games may have faced setbacks in individual battles, this ruling suggests they have effectively won the war against Apple's restrictive practices. Although Apple intends to appeal the decision, the likelihood of reversing the judges' rulings seems slim.

With the Epic Games Store now established on Android and iOS in the EU, and on Android in the US, the importance of the iOS App Store could diminish over time. This shift could herald a new era of more open and competitive app marketplaces.