Epic Games has accused Apple of blocking the popular Fortnite app from being available on both the U.S. and European Union App Stores, escalating ongoing tensions between the two tech giants.
Following a significant legal victory that allowed developers to offer alternative payment methods on Apple’s U.S. App Store without incurring commission fees, Epic Games attempted to resubmit Fortnite to the U.S. App Store on May 9, 2025.
However, Apple failed to approve the submission within a week. As a result, Epic withdrew the request, citing the need to keep Fortnite’s weekly content updates synchronized across all platforms. According to Epic CEO Tim Sweeney, any delay disrupts the coordinated global rollout of new game features.
What This Means for Fortnite Players
This dispute has created uncertainty and frustration for players, especially those on iOS devices. iPhone and iPad users have been unable to download or update Fortnite through official channels since 2020. While the game has remained accessible through cloud gaming platforms like NVIDIA GeForce NOW, the lack of a native app continues to hinder the user experience.
With Apple allegedly blocking new submissions and Epic insisting on a unified global update schedule, Fortnite’s return to iOS remains on hold. This affects not only U.S. users but potentially millions in Europe who had hoped for a complete restoration of Fortnite on the App Store.
Epic Games’ Latest Attempt to Bring Fortnite Back to iOS
Epic Games, the developer behind the globally popular battle royale game Fortnite, attempted to resubmit the app to the U.S. App Store on May 9, 2025. The resubmission was part of Epic’s broader efforts to reintroduce Fortnite to Apple users following a nearly four-year absence.
However, after receiving no response from Apple for over a week, Epic withdrew the submission. According to Epic CEO Tim Sweeney, the delay posed a serious issue, as Fortnite is updated weekly across all platforms. These synchronized updates are essential for game balance, events, and player engagement. Without timely approval, Epic claimed it could not maintain the consistency required for its global player base.
Epic Resubmits Fortnite with Updates—But Faces More Roadblocks
On May 14, 2025, Epic submitted a new version of Fortnite with updated content, expecting a smoother process. However, on May 16, a post from the official Fortnite X (formerly Twitter) account stated that Apple had once again blocked the submission.
More concerning, the post alleged that Apple’s actions had extended beyond the U.S., claiming that the company had also blocked Fortnite’s access to the EU App Store, effectively halting the game’s availability on iOS devices worldwide.
A revised version of the Fortnite app, including updated content, was submitted for review on May 14, 2025.
But on Friday morning, Epic Games announced via a post on X (formerly Twitter) that Apple had blocked its latest submission in the U.S. and that the company was also preventing Fortnite from launching in the EU App Store.
Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it,” the official Fortnite account stated.
History of the Apple vs. Epic Legal Battle
This latest dispute is part of a broader, years-long battle between the two companies. The feud began in August 2020, when Epic introduced a direct payment system in Fortnite, bypassing Apple’s 30% commission fee. Apple responded by removing Fortnite from the App Store, triggering a landmark antitrust lawsuit.
Epic argued that Apple’s control over iOS app distribution and in-app purchases was monopolistic. Although the initial court ruling in 2021 favored Apple on most counts, Epic won a crucial point: Apple was required to allow developers to include links or buttons directing users to external payment systems.
This ruling set the stage for Epic’s attempt to bring Fortnite back to the App Store under new conditions. Yet, as the current standoff reveals, legal victories don’t always translate to smooth operational outcomes.
Apple has rejected Epic’s claims. A spokesperson clarified that Apple had requested Epic Sweden remove the U.S. storefront from its app update submission to avoid affecting Fortnite’s availability in other regions.
We did not take any action to remove the live version of Fortnite from alternative distribution marketplaces in the European Commission,” Apple said in its statement.
The EU’s Digital Markets Act and What Comes Next
The situation in the European Union is especially sensitive given the recent implementation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA aims to curb the market dominance of major tech platforms like Apple by mandating greater openness, including allowing third-party app stores and alternative payment systems.
Epic has been working to establish its own Epic Games Store on iOS within the EU, which was expected to launch later in 2025. If Apple is found to be impeding this effort, it could face regulatory scrutiny or penalties under the DMA framework.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Fortnite currently unavailable on iOS devices?
Fortnite is unavailable on iOS globally because Apple blocked Epic Games’ recent attempt to reintroduce the game to both the U.S. App Store and the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union. Epic claims that Apple rejected its submission, effectively preventing the game’s availability worldwide.
What led to this situation?
The conflict began in 2020 when Epic Games introduced a direct payment system in Fortnite, bypassing Apple’s in-app purchase mechanism. This violated Apple’s App Store policies, leading to Apple removing Fortnite from the App Store and terminating Epic’s developer account.
Has Fortnite ever returned to iOS since its removal?
Yes, in 2024, Fortnite became available on iOS devices in the EU through third-party app stores like the Epic Games Store and AltStore PAL, following the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) that required Apple to allow third-party app stores.
Why did Apple block Fortnite’s return in the U.S. and EU recently?
Epic attempted to resubmit Fortnite to the U.S. App Store using its Swedish developer account. Apple requested that Epic exclude the U.S. storefront to avoid impacting availability in other regions. Epic claims this request effectively blocked Fortnite’s return, leading to its unavailability on iOS devices globally.
What is Apple’s stance on this issue?
Apple contends that it only requested Epic to exclude the U.S. storefront to prevent affecting access in other regions and denies removing Fortnite from any marketplace.
What is the Digital Markets Act (DMA), and how does it relate to this dispute?
The DMA is an EU regulation that mandates large digital platforms, like Apple, to allow third-party app stores on their devices. Under this act, Epic Games launched its store and reintroduced Fortnite to iOS devices in the EU. However, Apple has rejected Epic’s submissions, citing similarities in design elements to the App Store, which Epic argues is arbitrary and obstructive.
Conclusion
Apple और Epic Games के बीच चल रहा विवाद एक बार फिर सुर्खियों में है, क्योंकि Epic का दावा है कि Apple अमेरिका और यूरोपीय संघ (EU) दोनों क्षेत्रों में Fortnite की वापसी को रोक रहा है। EU के नए डिजिटल मार्केट्स एक्ट (DMA) के बावजूद, Apple ने Epic के एप्लिकेशन को स्वीकृति देने से इनकार किया, जिससे Fortnite iOS उपयोगकर्ताओं के लिए फिर से अनुपलब्ध हो गया है। यह विवाद केवल एक एप की उपलब्धता का मामला नहीं है, बल्कि तकनीकी दिग्गजों की ताकत, प्रतिस्पर्धा की स्वतंत्रता, और उपभोक्ता के अधिकारों से जुड़ा एक बड़ा मुद्दा बन चुका है। आने वाले समय में न्यायिक और नियामक फैसले यह तय करेंगे कि क्या iOS उपयोगकर्ताओं को Fortnite जैसे लोकप्रिय गेम्स तक दोबारा स्वतंत्र रूप से पहुंच मिल पाएगी या नहीं।