Apple Blocks Fortnite iOS Return on App Store; Global Access Cut

Apple has decisively blocked Epic Games’ latest attempt to bring Fortnite back to iOS devices, rejecting its U.S. App Store submission and leading to the game’s removal from third-party European Union stores. Epic Games announced the development via its official Fortnite X account, stating the game will be “offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it.” This move effectively shutters all iOS access to the popular battle royale title worldwide, reversing limited EU availability and dashing hopes for a U.S. return that Epic had pursued following a critical court ruling against Apple’s App Store policies.

The decision intensifies the long-running feud between the tech giants, with significant implications for gamers and the broader industry concerning app store control and developer rights. It remains unclear whether Apple directly blocked Fortnite’s availability on EU alternative marketplaces like the Epic Games Store or AltStore PAL, or if Epic itself withdrew the game following the U.S. rejection.

Epic’s resubmission on May 14, 2025, as reported by MacRumors, came after its initial May 9, 2025, filing went unanswered by Apple for over 120 hours, a period far exceeding Apple’s typical review timeline. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney had explained the resubmission was to include a weekly content update, as all platforms require simultaneous updates. Sweeney later stated on X, as reported by G3Esports, that as of May 15 Apple had “neither accepted nor rejected” Epic’s submission, thus putting the Friday Fortnite update “in jeopardy.”

Court Rulings and Escalating Tensions

Epic’s renewed U.S. push was largely fueled by an April 30 court order from U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. The judge found Apple had violated a 2021 injunction on “anti-steering” rules, which are policies preventing developers from guiding users to other payment options. Judge Rogers asserted Apple acted “with the express intent to create new anticompetitive barriers,” and that its justifications “strain credulity.” The ruling was particularly harsh, including a rare referral of Apple for a potential criminal contempt investigation and finding testimony from an Apple finance executive “not credible” and “replete with misdirection and outright lies under oath.”

In response, Apple modified its App Store Review Guidelines on May 1 to comply with the order pending appeal, allowing U.S. developers to direct users to external purchase options without penalty. Other developers, like Spotify, successfully updated their apps under these revised rules. However, Apple formally appealed Judge Rogers’ ruling on May 5, with a spokesperson reiterating the company’s disagreement while committing to comply with the order during the appeal process.

Epic’s Strategy and Sweeney’s Frustrations

The April 30  ruling had initially appeared to create an opening for Epic. Tim Sweeney, in early May, had called the billion-dollar legal fight “worth the cost” for “digital freedoms.” He had even anticipated Fortnite’s U.S. availability within that week. Epic Games also announced plans for its Epic Games Store, including a 0% commission tier and “webshops,” citing “new legal rulings” as enabling links from iOS apps.

However, the relationship remained strained. Sweeney, according to Eurogamer, mentioned Apple had not returned Epic’s calls regarding the submission. He has become increasingly critical, accusing Apple of misusing its App Review process.

In comments on X, Sweeney argued that while Apple’s App Review team should operate freely based on clear guidelines, “App Review shouldn’t be weaponized by senior management as a tool to delay or obstruct competition, due process, or free speech.”

He further elaborated on the reliance Epic’s release planning has on supportive platforms, stating, “There is no way a rapidly evolving multi-platform game like Fortnite can operate if platforms use their power or processes to obstruct.” This underscores the operational difficulties multi-platform games face with such obstructions.

A Global Setback Amid Ongoing Battles

Fortnite’s path to an iOS return has always been complex. Epic utilized its Epic Games Sweden developer account for the U.S. submission because Apple terminated its primary U.S. account in 2020 after Epic introduced direct payments in Fortnite, the action that ignited the extensive legal battle.

The current global unavailability, even in the European Union where the Digital Markets Act (DMA) had previously allowed Fortnite’s return via alternative stores, signifies a major hurdle for Epic. The company had been navigating Apple’s Core Technology Fee (CTF) in the EU, a per-install fee for large apps distributed outside the main App Store, which Epic and other developers argued created significant financial barriers.

Apple, for its part, has not immediately commented on the reasons for the latest block. This global iOS blackout for Fortnite shows the deep-seated conflict and Apple’s unwavering stance, even as it faces judicial criticism and evolving regulatory landscapes worldwide, including a €500 million DMA fine in the EU for similar anti-steering practices.