Now that Epic Games' developer account has been terminated, Apple is also ending access to other services, such as Sign in with Apple. According to Epic Games, Apple will no longer let users sign in to Epic Games using Sign in with Apple as of September 11, which is in two days.
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Epic says that customers who use Sign in with Apple to access their Epic Games accounts should make sure their email and password are up to date, and the company is offering an FAQ on how to update an account email address and password so Epic Games users don't lose access to their accounts.
Apple will no longer allow users to sign into Epic Games accounts using “Sign In with Apple” as soon as September 11, 2020. If you used “Sign In with Apple”, please make sure your email and password are up to date. https://t.co/4XZX5g0eaf — Epic Games Store (@EpicGames) September 9, 2020
Customers who do not update to a standard email address and password will not be able to log in to their accounts, but after September 11, those who did not transition from Sign in with Apple may be able to contact Epic Games to have their accounts recovered manually.
Sign in with Apple is a feature that allows Apple device users to sign in to accounts and services using their Apple ID, with that info obscured from the website or service for privacy purposes. It's similar to Google and Facebook account sign in options, but with Apple promising greater privacy through options like Hide My Email.
The feature was introduced as part of iOS 13 and apps and services have been adopting it since then. Apple requires any app that uses Google and Facebook login options to also offer Sign in with Apple.
Update: According to Epic Games, Apple is providing an "indefinite extension" and will not be ending access to Sign in With Apple.
UPDATE: Apple previously stated they would terminate “Sign In with Apple” support for Epic Games accounts after Sept 11, 2020, but today provided an indefinite extension. We still recommend you prepare your accounts now for “Sign In with Apple” removal. https://t.co/T0Rq0tfrR7 — Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) September 10, 2020
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It's a feature Apple offers. Epic Games is no longer a developer because they breached their contract. I don't see the problem in this. Anyone with an App likely will continue paying their $99 a year unless, ya know, they breach their contract and hotfix in a way to bypass Apples payment systems.This just reminds other developers that if they rely on too many Apple services, Apple can kneel on their necks anytime they want..... it really feels more like intimidation efforts towards other developers at this point to keep them in line.
They could have reached out to other large companies and negotiated with Apple as a coalition and I'm willing to bet they would have had much better results.
Apple's approach here feels a step-too-far as it is likely to affect Apple customers negatively in a way that they can only be linked directly back to Apple. That and the precedent being set, as stated in a previous post, that Sign in with Apple is possibly not as reliable as other options.This just reminds other developers that if they rely on too many Apple services, Apple can kneel on their necks anytime they want..... it really feels more like intimidation efforts towards other developers at this point to keep them in line.
Hopefully Apple rethinks escalating in this way. I cannot see how this does not start to look like Apple is willing to sacrifice customer experience to make a point I believe has already been made. Move it to the courts to be settled.