Microsoft makes case against Apple with filing in support of Fortnite maker Epic Games

Phil Spencer, head of Xbox at Microsoft, at a 2019 Xbox E3 Briefing at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Microsoft Photo)

For the second time this month, Microsoft is speaking out publicly against Apple’s actions toward third-party developers, making a statement of support for Epic’s Unreal Engine in the game technology company’s lawsuit against the iPad and iPhone maker.

Microsoft filed a statement in federal court in California over the weekend, after Epic accused Apple of threatening to revoke its access to its Apple developer accounts and tools. It’s the latest twist in a larger dispute over the Fortnite maker’s use of an in-app currency system that sidestepped Apple’s traditional payment mechanism and the accompanying 30% fee.

Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, said on Twitter over the weekend that ensuring Epic has access to the latest Apple technology is “the right thing” for gamers and the industry.

Today we filed a statement in support of Epic’s request to keep access to the Apple SDK for its Unreal Engine. Ensuring that Epic has access to the latest Apple technology is the right thing for gamer developers & gamers https://t.co/72bLdDkvUx

— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) August 23, 2020

Microsoft’s court filing explained the company’s position in detail.

“Denying Epic access to Apple’s SDK and other development tools will prevent Epic from supporting Unreal Engine on iOS and macOS, and will place Unreal Engine and those game creators that have built, are building, and may build games on it at a substantial disadvantage,” wrote Kevin Gammill, Microsoft’s general manager for Gaming Developer Experiences, in the company’s declaration.

He continued, “If Unreal Engine cannot support games for iOS or macOS, Microsoft would be required to choose between abandoning its  customers and potential customers on the iOS and macOS platforms or choosing a different game engine when preparing to develop new games.

“Because iOS is a large and growing market for games, Apple’s discontinuation of Unreal Engine’s ability to support iOS will be a material disadvantage for the Unreal Engine in future decisions by Microsoft and other game creators as to the choice of an  engine for new games.”

Microsoft previously spoke out against Apple’s App Store policies, saying it would not be able to bring its game subscription services to Apple devices because of the associated rules and restrictions.

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Microsoft makes hydrogen fuel cell breakthrough in quest to power data centers with renewable energy

Power Innovations built a 250-kilowatt fuel cell system to help Microsoft explore the potential of using a hydrogen fuel cells for backup power generation at data centers. (Power Innovations Photo)

For the first time, Microsoft has successfully powered a row of data center servers using hydrogen fuel cells for 48 hours, a milestone the company is marking because of its potential to reduce reliance on fossil-fuel consuming generators.

The fuel cells combine hydrogen and oxygen in a process that creates water vapor and electricity. Microsoft conducted the proof-of-concept at a data center near Salt Lake City, Utah.

Microsoft is investing in hydrogen energy technology as part of its effort to become carbon negative and eliminate its dependence on diesel fuel by 2030.

Although Microsoft uses diesel generators as back-up power for data centers on average less than once a year, and only when the grid fails, the company sees other applications for hydrogen fuel cells down the road. Microsoft envisions a future in which hydrogen could be used to power industrial facilities and long-haul vehicles.

“What if you could take all of these assets the datacenter has and integrate them into the grid in a way that helps to further accelerate decarbonization of the grid more broadly rather than just a point solution for the data center itself,” said Brian Janous, general manager of Microsoft’s data center sustainability team, in a statement. “That’s where I think all of this gets interesting.”

Microsoft used hydrogen stored in these tanks on trailers parked outside a lab near Salt Lake City, Utah, to fuel hydrogen fuel cells that powered a row of datacenter servers for 48 consecutive hours. (Power Innovations Photo)

The estimated costs to produce hydrogen fuel cells has fallen 75% since 2018, according to Microsoft. If the trend continues, the company predicts hydrogen fuel cells will be price competitive with diesel generators.

Earlier this month, Microsoft announced new sustainability initiatives, including the largest single renewable energy investment the company has ever made. Microsoft pledged in January to become carbon negative by 2030 and remove more carbon than the company has put into the atmosphere since it launched by 2050.

But climate change advocates say the commitments run counter to Microsoft’s partnerships with oil and gas companies. Cloud providers, like Microsoft and Amazon, are under particular scrutiny for supplying tools that energy companies use to find and extract fossil fuels.

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