Epic Games has announced that Apple blocked its latest submission of Fortnite to the App Store. As a result, the popular game is now unavailable on iOS in both the U.S. and the European Union. The move revives a long-standing battle between the two tech giants, which began in 2020 when Epic bypassed Apple’s in-app payment system.
Despite earlier reports that Fortnite would return to the App Store in May 2025, Epic now confirms that Apple denied approval and removed the game from EU stores as well.
A Broken Comeback Attempt
Earlier this month, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said the company would submit Fortnite using its Sweden-based developer account. He expressed confidence that Apple would not block the attempt. However, Apple appears to have done just that, leaving fans without access to the game on iOS platforms.
In a tweet, the official Fortnite account wrote, “Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission… Sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it.”
Legal History Still Haunts the App
The conflict stems from Epic’s original decision in 2020 to introduce direct payments in Fortnite, violating Apple’s App Store rules. That led to Apple removing the game and revoking Epic’s developer account. A legal battle followed, with Apple winning most points in court. However, it lost on one issue—anti-competitive conduct—which led to an order requiring Apple to allow developers to offer external payment links.
Epic assumed this legal shift meant it could return Fortnite to iOS. But Apple disagreed, and the game remains unavailable.
What Happens Next?
Currently, Apple has not issued a public comment. Epic also hasn’t shared a new plan for reinstating the game. Meanwhile, questions remain over why Epic doesn’t publish Fortnite on macOS, which doesn’t require App Store approval.
For now, Fortnite fans will have to wait as the legal and technical standoff between Epic and Apple continues.
