Fortnite goes offline on iOS after Apple blocks Epic Games’ submission in the US

Epic Games has announced that the popular battle royale title Fortnite, which was “supposed” to go live last week in the US, will face yet another delay. The makers of the game confirmed that their Fortnite submission has been blocked by Apple, although the reasons are unknown.

Fortnite will not return on iOS until Apple changes its stance

As a result, Fortnite has been made “unavailable” in the EU and will remain offline globally on iOS, and Epic says it won’t return until Apple changes its stance. This continues the long-running standoff between the two companies over app distribution and platform rules.

Actually, this move comes as a surprise, especially after CEO Tim Sweeney suggested that Fortnite would return to the App Store in the US in the second week of May 2025, so it was expected that the game would finally see the light after a long gap since its ban back in 2021.

Epic relaunched Fortnite through its own Epic Games Store in the EU back in August 2024 on both Android and iOS, taking advantage of new rules under the Digital Markets Act. The original fight began when Epic challenged Apple’s in-app purchase system, which took a 30% commission.

Since then, courts have ruled against Apple for its hefty fee, but the conflict continues. Even with legal wins, Epic still faces challenges in bringing Fortnite back to iOS.

For now, Fortnite fans can still play the game on other platforms like PC, Consoles, Android via Epic Games Store, and cloud services. However, those using iPhones or iPads will have to wait for a resolution between the two companies before they can jump back into the game.

Update (17th May, 2025) – Epic confirms Apple’s stance on submission, still waiting for “court ruling”

Epic Games announced on Saturday that Apple broke the silence with a letter. Here, Apple reportedly refused to review Epic’s Fortnite app update submission, claiming the company is waiting for a court ruling before taking any action.

Epic believes this goes against a court order and has filed a second Motion to Enforce Injunction with the US District Court for the Northern District of California. They argue that Apple is using this delay to block Fortnite’s return in both the US and the EU.

According to Epic, Apple also provided a solution which required them to submit two versions of the game. This, in turn, breaks Apple’s own rule against uploading multiple versions of the same app.

The Fortnite makers claim Apple is treating them unfairly and retaliating because of their legal battle over Apple’s app store policies.

Update (20th May, 2025) – Apple ordered to explain Fortnite App Store ban

The US District Court for the Northern District of California has issued an Order to Show Cause to Apple, demanding an explanation by Wednesday, May 21, 2025, on why it is allegedly violating a court injunction.

The order follows Epic Games’ motion to enforce the injunction related to the ongoing antitrust case over App Store practices. The court emphasized that Apple has not obtained a stay from the Ninth Circuit Court and must justify its actions or face further consequences.

A court hearing is set for May 27, 2025, in Oakland, California, where a responsible Apple official must appear in person.

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