Introducing Fortnite vs. Apple: The Ongoing Legal Battle.
The Epic Games versus Apple legal saga continues to make headlines in the tech industry. Recently, Epic Games reported that Apple’s latest decision has once again blocked Fortnite‘s return to the App Store.
“Apple has rejected our submission for Fortnite, preventing its release on the US App Store and the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union,” stated the official Fortnite account. “Consequently, Fortnite will remain offline worldwide until Apple resolves this issue.”
As inquiries grow, any developments from Apple will be monitored and reported accordingly.
New developments in app store regulations following legal rulings
Just a week ago, Epic Games stirred excitement among gamers by announcing the resubmission of Fortnite to the App Store. However, this latest rejection now makes the game unavailable to all iOS users globally.
Previously, iOS gamers in the EU had access to Fortnite, but that option has now been eliminated. Additionally, the game cannot be downloaded through third-party app stores in the EU, leaving many confused over the restrictions.
One potential explanation lies in the resubmission process. Epic Games had submitted Fortnite for approval in the U.S. using its European developer account. If this submission faced rejection, it may have triggered broader implications for the company. Speculation suggests Epic might have removed the game from third-party stores voluntarily.
In the United States, iOS gamers have been unable to download Fortnite on Apple devices since 2020, a situation rooted in the ongoing legal dispute. For a quick overview: Fortnite has been unplayable natively on iPhones due to conflict over Apple’s 30% commission on in-app purchases. This dispute has escalated into a significant antitrust case against Apple, which recently faced a contempt of court ruling for collecting fees on off-app purchases.
The anticipated return of Fortnite to the App Store is still uncertain, leaving gamers longing to interact with characters like Darth Vader on Apple devices.
In a statement, Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney suggested that Apple has “weaponized” the app review process, framing the issue as a matter of free speech.
