Epic Games has taken legal action to compel Apple to permit the release of the popular game Fortnite in the US App Store, marking another chapter in the ongoing dispute regarding Apple’s dominance in game distribution and revenue sharing.
The game developer previously claimed that Apple had “blocked” its latest submission of the Fortnite app, preventing its launch in the United States and also on the Epic Games Store in the European Union. According to a statement on Epic’s X account, “Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it.”
An Apple representative later addressed the matter, clarifying that the company had not taken any steps to remove the current version of Fortnite from alternative distribution platforms in the EU. Apple stated that it requested Epic’s European branch, Epic Sweden, to “resubmit the app update without including the US storefront of the App Store so as not to impact Fortnite in other geographies.”
Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission so we cannot release to the US App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union. Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it.
— Fortnite (@Fortnite) May 16, 2025
This incident adds to the lengthy history of conflict between Epic Games and Apple, which has included multiple legal challenges focusing on Apple’s App Store policies and the commissions it imposes on in-app purchases—a significant revenue stream for Epic.
Recently, Epic Games submitted the Fortnite app to the US App Store, aiming to reintroduce the game to US users for the first time in three years. This action followed a judicial decision that mandated Apple to allow third-party applications to direct users to the web for in-app purchases without incurring a commission. Apple has not indicated whether Fortnite will be re-accepted in the US store.
In its court filing, Epic asserted, “Apple’s refusal to consider Epic’s Fortnite submission is Apple’s latest attempt to circumvent” the court’s injunction and authority. The company is seeking a ruling to enforce the injunction, find Apple in civil contempt, and require Apple to accept any compliant Epic app, including Fortnite, for distribution on the US App Store.
On Wednesday, in response to a lack of feedback from Apple, Epic withdrew its initial submission and provided a new version of the app with updated content to align with the game offerings on other platforms.
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