Founder and leader of Epic Games, developer of highly successful video games like Fortnite , Sweeney used his Twitter profile to criticize Apple's 30% commission for the sale of any NFT through its app store.
Although this commission is the same as that charged for the sale of common applications, it is well above the rates charged by the markets in this industry. OpenSea, the largest NFT marketplace today, charges a 2.5% commission on auctions that take place on its platform.
'Apple must be stopped'
In Sweeney's words , Apple may "squash other nascent technology that could rival its grotesquely expensive in-app payment service." Suggesting a boycott of NFT sales at the company store, she says the company needs to be stopped.
It is worth remembering that Epic Games' battle against Apple's high commissions does not come from now. The developer sued the company in 2020, claiming the 30% fees violated US antitrust laws. Despite the court ruling in favor of Apple, the case was resumed and is currently ongoing.
When it comes to NFTs, Apple could quickly become the largest marketplace in this segment as the number of people worldwide who own iPhones crosses the 1 billion mark. By comparison, OpenSea had just over 1 million monthly users at the height of the market, and that number has dropped in recent months.
For some experts, even with the high commission rates, the entry of the company founded by Steve Jobs in the NFT industry will bring more positive than negative. In particular, games developed for smartphones may be inclined to use and sell tokens in this format on their platforms.
However, some seem to share the opinion of the CEO of Epic Games . Sources indicate that Magic Eden , Solana 's largest NFT (SOL) marketplace , has given up on making its tokens available on the App Store after learning that sales would be taxed at 30%.