Epic Claims Apple Bans Fortnite from U.S. App Store Again

Epic Games has faced yet another setback in its legal battle with Apple, as the latter has reportedly blocked Fortnite's return to the U.S. App Store. This comes despite hopes pinned on a recent court ruling that found Apple in violation of an order requiring it to allow developers alternative payment methods. Epic's CEO, Tim Sweeney, expressed frustration on social media, aiming his appeals directly at Apple's CEO, Tim Cook. The ongoing dispute focuses on Epic's desire to bypass Apple's 30% revenue cut from mobile game sales, which has already cost the company billions since Fortnite was removed from iOS in 2020. Epic has confirmed that Fortnite will remain offline worldwide until Apple resolves the issue.

Fortnite is currently unavailable on the iOS App Store because Apple has blocked Epic Games' submission for the game following a recent court ruling that found Apple in violation of competition laws. Epic Games is fighting to avoid Apple’s store fees and wants to enable alternative purchasing options for its users.

Fortnite, initially launched in July 2017, has become a cultural phenomenon and a leading force in the battle royale genre, attracting millions of players globally. After facing significant backlash from both gamers and the developer community due to the App Store restrictions, Epic Games has aggressively pursued legal action against Apple and Google, advocating for fairer financial terms in the digital storefront landscape. This ongoing saga continues to highlight the complex relationship between app developers and platform holders.