In a fresh twist to their long-running legal feud, Fortnite has once again been banned from iPhones and other Apple devices in both the United States and the European Union. The move comes despite Epic Games’ recent legal victories against Apple, reigniting the complex and high-stakes battle between the gaming giant and the tech titan over app distribution rights and marketplace fairness.
Epic Games made the announcement on its official Fortnite X account, stating that Apple had blocked its latest submission of the Fortnite app, preventing its release on both the U.S. App Store and Epic’s own Epic Games Store for iOS in the EU. As a result, the company confirmed that Fortnite will be offline worldwide on iOS until Apple lifts the block.
A Battle That Never Ends
The current ban is the latest development in a bitter legal saga that began in 2020, when Apple first removed Fortnite from the App Store after Epic implemented an alternative in-app payment system, violating Apple’s strict policies. That move sparked multiple lawsuits, including an antitrust case where Epic accused Apple of maintaining an illegal monopoly over app distribution and payments on iOS devices.
Although a mixed verdict was handed down in 2021, recent court developments have tipped the balance in Epic’s favor. In January 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Apple’s appeal, allowing a lower court ruling to stand. More recently, in March 2024, Apple was also hit with a major antitrust lawsuit by the U.S. Department of Justice, which accuses the company of stifling innovation and fair competition.
Apple Responds, But Critics Remain Unconvinced
In response to the latest controversy, an Apple spokesperson clarified that the company had requested Epic Sweden, the developer’s European subsidiary, to resubmit the app without including the U.S. storefront, citing concerns about potential implications for other regions. Apple also stated that it had not removed the live version of Fortnite from alternative distribution marketplaces.
However, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney was quick to criticize Apple’s app review process, claiming it had been “weaponized” by management to delay and suppress competition. He also called for the app review process to operate according to clear, unbiased guidelines.
A Judge Calls Out Apple’s Conduct
The situation escalated further when U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who presided over the original 2021 case, issued a strong rebuke of Apple’s actions in a more recent ruling. She found that Apple had violated the terms of the injunction that was supposed to allow developers to direct users to external payment systems.
Calling Apple’s behavior a clear attempt to “interfere with competition,” the judge accused the company of trying to obfuscate its actions in court and even referred one Apple executive, Alex Roman, for potential criminal contempt charges for allegedly lying under oath.
What It Means for Users and Developers
The re-blocking of Fortnite underscores the ongoing tension between platform owners and developers, especially around the issues of app store fees, content control, and user access. Apple’s 30% commission on in-app purchases has been at the center of the debate, with critics arguing that it is both excessive and harmful to competition.
For Epic, Fortnite remains available on other platforms, including Android, PC, and consoles. But for millions of iPhone users, the continued absence of one of the world’s most popular games highlights how platform policies can directly shape user access and developer freedoms.
What’s Next?
As both companies dig in, regulatory pressure on Apple continues to mount globally. Meanwhile, Epic is betting that continued legal pressure, combined with growing support from regulators and developers alike, will eventually force Apple to change its App Store model.
Until then, Fortnite fans on iOS remain in limbo—caught in the crossfire of one of the tech world’s most consequential battles.
