Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite

The Ongoing Irony Of 1984

September 3, 2020 by Justin Morante

During halftime of the 1984 Super Bowl, Apple released a commercial teasing the release of the new Macintosh computer. The commercial depicted the Macintosh as a tool of independence and freedom that would liberate the individual from an Orwellian society, and became an instant hit. Though a parody of sorts, there was something eerily relevant about it at the time, which resonated with a widespread audience. Fast forward to 2020, and Apple has become, to many at least, the very symbol of oppression that the 1984 commercial depicted.

Epic Sues Apple

This great irony has culminated in what some are considering the OJ trial of the tech world. Epic Games, the creator of the popular game Fortnite, have filed a lawsuit against the tech giant, after Apple removed the game from its App Store for not following the company's in-app payment guidelines. Epic claims that Apple has become the very monster it once sought to vanquish. Shortly after filing the lawsuit, Epic released its own parody of the famous 1984 ad, and the speed by which the parody was released indicates that Epic had been planning the lawsuit for some time.

While the trial is ongoing, there's no question that the implications could be profound. Whether or not other companies follow suit, Epic's bold stand could at the very least raise awareness of the need for some sort of market regulation relating to the tech giants. Many feel that a best case scenario would be an environment with more marketplaces, more competition, and ultimately more money for developers. How we get there remains to be seen. For a more in depth discussion of this topic, check out episode 10 of The While Loop entitled, "Pass Golang and collect $200, which is more than the damages Epic is seeking against Apple."