(Credit: Epic Games)
Apple has blocked Fortnite's return to iPhone in the US, and the move means the game is also offline in regions where it was available, such as the European Union.
Epic Games submitted Fortnite for iPhone and iPad to the App Store a week ago, but Epic now says, "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."
Apple has yet to officially comment on its reason for blocking the game. We contacted Apple and Epic Games for further clarification.
This is the latest development in a years-long legal case between Epic Games and Apple. The battle royale game Fortnite was removed from the App Store in 2020 because the developers wanted to circumvent Apple rules that only allowed in-app payments through its own system. Apple takes a 30% cut from all revenue made through this method.
In early May, a US Judge ordered Apple to change its developer rules. Apple made the changes, but it also appealed the decision.
Epic Games said it would reinstate Fortnite on the App Store for those in the US after Apple made the changes. CEO Tim Sweeney said on Wednesday that the company had been left in the dark on why the game hadn’t passed through Apple’s process. The company then resubmitted its game in a new update later that day as it wanted to include updates ready for Fortnite version 35.10, which released on May 16.
That's likely why the game is offline around the world on iOS. As the game got a significant update on consoles, Android, and PC on Friday, it appears Epic Games needed it to match across all platforms, and Apple's process didn't allow for it.
Before Epic's announcement, Sweeney said on X, “Apple’s App Review team should be free to review all submitted apps promptly and accept or reject according to the plain language of their guidelines. App Review shouldn’t be weaponized by senior management as a tool to delay or obstruct competition, due process, or free speech.”
Apple’s European Union storefront has begun warning users when an application doesn’t use App Store payments. As reported by The Verge, Apple has begun including a message above the app's name with a red warning symbol. It reads, “This app does not support the App Store’s private and secure payment system. It uses external purchases.”