In a fresh escalation of its long-running feud with Apple, Epic Games announced on Friday that Fortnite has been blocked on Apple’s App Store globally, rendering the hit game unavailable to iPhone users around the world.
“Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission… sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it,” Epic said in a post on X. The removal marks a new chapter in a dispute over app store policies and fees that has persisted since 2021.
Although Fortnite had already been inaccessible on the U.S. App Store due to legal wrangling, the latest move now affects users across Europe and beyond.
Apple, in response, stated it had asked Epic to resubmit its update for the game from Sweden without including the U.S. storefront, in order to avoid affecting users in other regions. “We did not take any action to remove the live version of Fortnite from alternative distribution marketplaces,” a spokesperson for Apple told AFP.
The standoff stems from Epic’s broader legal and regulatory battle against the commissions charged by Apple and Google for app purchases—fees that can reach up to 30 percent. Epic has labeled these commissions “junk fees,” accusing the tech giants of anti-competitive behavior.
While Epic has made legal headway in both U.S. and EU courts, the dispute continues. A federal judge recently ruled that Apple was not complying with an earlier court order to allow developers to direct users to alternative payment options, further fueling tensions. Epic quickly submitted a fresh request to have Fortnite reinstated on the U.S. App Store but said Apple has yet to accept or reject the submission.
In the European Union, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) mandates that Apple open its platform to third-party app stores, which Epic has leveraged to offer Fortnite through its own store. However, even in the EU, Fortnite is currently unavailable via Apple’s App Store.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney confirmed that despite the submission, “Apple has neither accepted nor rejected it,” hinting at what the company perceives as deliberate foot-dragging.
Fortnite, with around 500 million users globally as of 2023, remains a titan in the gaming industry. The game’s removal is a blow not only to Epic’s user base but also to Apple’s services business, which now accounts for over a quarter of its revenue.
Apple has prioritized growing this division—including its App Store, iCloud, and streaming services—as it looks to diversify beyond iPhone sales.
Last week, Bloomberg reported Apple is seeking to delay part of the court ruling that prevents it from taking commissions on purchases made outside its platform. Epic and other developers, like Spotify, have begun exploiting the ruling to bypass Apple’s system—Spotify now offers external payment options in its iOS app.
As the battle rages on, users caught in the middle of the corporate clash may have to wait for resolution before Fortnite makes its return to Apple’s ecosystem.
What you should know
Fortnite has been blocked on Apple’s App Store globally, deepening a years-long dispute between Apple and Epic Games over app store fees and rules.
Despite legal victories, Epic accuses Apple of stalling the game’s return.
The situation affects millions of users worldwide and underscores growing tensions over Big Tech’s control of digital marketplaces.
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