Apple vs Epic continues. Picture supply: Epic Video games
“Fortnite” developer Epic Video games had claimed that Apple was each holding the sport out of the US App Retailer, and eradicating it from shops within the European Union, however now Apple denies this.
After its first submission of “Fortnite” to the App Retailer was allegedly ignored by Apple, Epic Video games introduced that the sport had been blocked within the US. In response to the corporate’s CEO, Tim Sweeney, Apple had additionally eliminated it from the European one, regardless of beforehand having been pressured to permit it.
Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission so we can not launch to the US App Retailer or to the Epic Video games Retailer for iOS within the European Union. Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS shall be offline worldwide till Apple unblocks it.
— Fortnite (@Fortnite) Might 16, 2025
Epic Video games CEO Tim Sweeney has given no additional rationalization, however now Apple has responded in a press release to Bloomberg.
Apple: We requested that Epic Sweden resubmit the app replace with out together with the US storefront of the App Retailer in order to not affect Fortnite in different geographies. We didn’t take any motion to take away the stay model of Fortnite from various distribution marketplaces within the EC https://t.co/QcZitRbuWZ
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) Might 16, 2025
This seems to recommend that Apple just isn’t intending to permit “Fortnite” again on to the US App Retailer. Builders need to specify what territories their app ought to go in, and seemingly Epic Video games included the US in its submission.
Apple doesn’t handle why it might or is probably not refusing to just accept the app in its US retailer. Equally, Epic Video games has not commented on why it claimed there was a worldwide ban on “Fortnite.”
How we bought right here
Choose Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers dominated in April 2025 that Apple had wilfully tried to work round situations set by the court docket. Consequently, so she imposed extra stringent, and extra particular ones that included permitting builders to make use of alternate options to Apple’s personal in-app cost processing.
Apple is interesting towards that ruling, however within the meantime is required to conform. Epic Video games subsequently introduced that this meant its “Fortnite” sport would return to the App Retailer.
The video games firm subsequent complained that Apple had ignored its submission to the shop, regardless of additionally claiming that the 2 sides had been in discussions.
“We have advised Apple what we’re doing. We have advised their developer relations staff,” he mentioned in early Might 2025. “I am unable to think about Apple blocking Fortnite at this level.”
What occurs subsequent
Epic Video games was initially thrown off the App Retailer as a result of it purposely violated its person agreements with Apple. It did in order a part of its orchestrated marketing campaign to get to make use of the App Retailer with out paying Apple, and that marketing campaign led to the years-long authorized battle.
It is not clear why Epic Video games believed that Apple having to permit third-party cost techniques meant that it could have the ability to return “Fortnite” to the App Retailer.
On the identical time, it isn’t identified why Epic Video games doesn’t make a Mac model of the sport — since Apple has no management over macOS apps.
