• Forums
  • Shop
  • iPhone 13
  • AirPods Deals
  • iPad Deals
  • Best Apple Watch
  1. Home
  2. /
  3. News
  4. /
  5. Apple
caught in the act?

Fortnite 'Sign in with Apple' claims 'simply false', says Gruber

"Multiple sources at Apple told me Epic's claims were simply false."
Stephen Warwick
30 Sep 2020

Sign in with Apple at WWDC keynoteSource: Apple

What you need to know

  • John Gruber says Epic Games' claim Apple tried to shut down Sign in with Apple for Fortnite is false.
  • He states that multiple sources at Apple have denied the claims and that it would make no sense for Apple to do this.
  • The news comes after a Judge was highly critical of Epic Games for being dishonest in its dealings with Apple.

Update, September 30 (1:30 pm ET): Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has responded to Gruber's claims, saying that they are false

Daring Fireball's John Gruber says multiple sources at Apple have confirmed that Epic Games' claim that the company was going to disable Sign in with Apple for Fortnite was false.

In a report Tuesday, Gruber notes that Epic Games previously warned users that Apple would disable Sign in with Apple for Fortnite from September 11. It quickly changed its tune to say Apple had provided an indefinite extension, and in a statement, Apple stated it had no such plans.

Gruber now corroborates this story, stating that multiple sources within Apple have backed this up, and further stating that such a move would have made no sense:

This smelled funny to me from the start, as it made no sense from Apple's perspective. Shutting Epic off from Sign In With Apple wouldn't penalize or punish Epic — it would only punish players who used (and trusted) Sign In With Apple (SIWA herewith) to create their accounts. It would punish only Fortnite players, and cause reputational harm among developers to the dependability of SIWA.

He continues:

I haven't written about this until now, but I was reminded of it by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers's disparagement of Epic Games' honesty during yesterday's hearing. I spent a few hours back on September 9 digging into this SIWA story, and multiple sources at Apple told me Epic's claims were simply false. There was never a September 11 deadline for their SIWA support to stop working, and in fact, Apple's SIWA team performed work to make sure SIWA continued working for Fortnite users despite the fact that Epic Games' developer account had been revoked. There was no "extension" because Apple was never going to revoke Epic's SIWA access.

Gruber's comments were made after Judge Gonzalez Rogers told Epic in court that it was dishonest in its dealings with Apple.

As reported by CNN:

"You did something, you lied about it by omission, by not being forthcoming. That's the security issue. That's the security issue!" Gonzalez Rogers told Epic. "There are a lot of people in the public who consider you guys heroes for what you guys did, but it's still not honest."

Gruber implies in the title of his piece that Epic Games "is an unreliable narrator". Both Apple and Epic Games have told a court they would prefer a trial to be decided by a judge, rather than a jury in this case. The court has not issued a judgment regarding a motion from Epic Games seeking to have Fortnite reinstated to the App Store.

Update, September 30 (1:30 pm ET) — Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has responded to Gruber's claims, saying that they are false

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has responded to the Gruber article, saying that Apple's claim to never have threatened to disable Sign in With Apple for Fortnite users was false. Sweeney points to communcation from Apple in documents filed in the lawsuit that prove there was pressure from the company to disable the feature.

"That's not right. Apple's communication to Epic on SIWA are in the public documents filed in the lawsuit. We twice asked Apple counsel to not block SIWA. They first offered a temporary extension, and then an indefinite extension."

That's not right.

Apple's communication to Epic on SIWA are in the public documents filed in the lawsuit. We twice asked Apple counsel to not block SIWA. They first offered a temporary extension, and then an indefinite extension. pic.twitter.com/NuLmOfqnIU

— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) September 30, 2020

Buy the cutest case for the cutest iPhone, the 13 mini!
Sweet little cases

Buy the cutest case for the cutest iPhone, the 13 mini!

The iPhone 13 mini is a pretty sweet phone. How about an adorable little case to match?

Nintendo recap: Stock controversy and Zelda port rumors
From the Editor's desk

Nintendo recap: Stock controversy and Zelda port rumors

This week we got some bad news for a game's collector's edition and also learned of controversy surrounding a purchase of Nintendo stock. Plus, Zelda rumors continue to fly.

How to use Apple's Accessibility Assistant shortcut
A more accessible world

How to use Apple's Accessibility Assistant shortcut

Apple released new versions of their Accessibility Assistant shortcut for Mac and Apple Watch, joining the iPhone & iPad version. We cover how the shortcut works, plus provide links to the Accessibility shortcuts available in the Gallery.

Keep your iPhone 13 looking cute with one of these adorable cases
So cute!

Keep your iPhone 13 looking cute with one of these adorable cases

Who says your iPhone case has to be boring? Express your style and protect your iPhone 13 with one of these adorable cases.

Keep in Touch

Sign up now to get the latest news, deals & more from iMore!

I would like to receive news and offers from other Future brands.

I would like to receive mail from Future partners.

No spam, we promise. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details without your permission.

  • News
  • Fortnite
  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • Apple Watch
  • Mac
  • Apple TV
  • Reviews
  • How To
  • HomeKit
  • Forums

Other Categories

  • About Us
  • Newsletter
  • Fitness
  • Apps
  • Gaming
  • Deals
  • Advertising Inquiries
  • Licensing and Reprints
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Android Central
  • Windows Central
  • Thrifter
  • TechnoBuffalo
  • MrMobile
Log in or Sign up
  • t
  • f
  • y
  • i
  • r

Brightness

  • © Future US, Inc.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Licensing
  • External Links Disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement
  • © Future US, Inc.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Licensing
  • External Links Disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement