Epic Games has announced that Apple has "blocked" its submission to the App Store and Epic Games Store on iOS, meaning that Fortnite won't be available on Apple devices globally for the foreseeable future.
The news comes around two weeks after Epic Games announced that Fortnite would be back on iOS, after a judge filed a major injunction against Apple. A post on the official Fortnite X account reads, "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."
The official Fortnite X account announced on May 9 that the game had been submitted for review on the App Store, however the company was left waiting an unusually long time without hearing back from Apple with either approval or rejection. Apple's developer website states that 90% of submissions are reviewed within 24 hours, and says developers will be emailed with any status changes.
Fortnite won't be on iOS devices any time soon.
Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney recently gave an update on the situation via X, suggesting that Apple may be "weaponizing" its App Review process against Epic. Sweeney said in a reply to another user that Epic Games had followed up with Apple via email on May 13, but still hadn't heard back. On the 14th, he revealed that Epic had to withdraw the previous version of Fortnite submitted to Apple and re-submit it due to pending updates.
"We need to release a weekly Fortnite update with new content this Friday, and all platforms must update simultaneously," Sweeney said in the X reply. "Our release planning relies on platforms supporting app developers like us releasing apps," he added in a subsequent reply. "There is no way a rapidly evolving multi-platform game like Fortnite can operate if platforms use their power or processes to obstruct."
"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," Sweeney said in another recent post. "App Review shouldn't be weaponized by senior management as a tool to delay or obstruct competition, due process, or free speech."
Epic Games' legal battle with Apple over its App Store practices has been ongoing since 2020, so it's no surprise that Apple is refusing to give in so easily. In a recent update, judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled against Apple in a major injunction, and even referred the case for possible contempt charges. Apple disagreed with the judge's decision and said it would be appealing.
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The news comes around two weeks after Epic Games announced that Fortnite would be back on iOS, after a judge filed a major injunction against Apple. A post on the official Fortnite X account reads, "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."
The official Fortnite X account announced on May 9 that the game had been submitted for review on the App Store, however the company was left waiting an unusually long time without hearing back from Apple with either approval or rejection. Apple's developer website states that 90% of submissions are reviewed within 24 hours, and says developers will be emailed with any status changes.
Fortnite won't be on iOS devices any time soon.
Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney recently gave an update on the situation via X, suggesting that Apple may be "weaponizing" its App Review process against Epic. Sweeney said in a reply to another user that Epic Games had followed up with Apple via email on May 13, but still hadn't heard back. On the 14th, he revealed that Epic had to withdraw the previous version of Fortnite submitted to Apple and re-submit it due to pending updates.
"We need to release a weekly Fortnite update with new content this Friday, and all platforms must update simultaneously," Sweeney said in the X reply. "Our release planning relies on platforms supporting app developers like us releasing apps," he added in a subsequent reply. "There is no way a rapidly evolving multi-platform game like Fortnite can operate if platforms use their power or processes to obstruct."
"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," Sweeney said in another recent post. "App Review shouldn't be weaponized by senior management as a tool to delay or obstruct competition, due process, or free speech."
Epic Games' legal battle with Apple over its App Store practices has been ongoing since 2020, so it's no surprise that Apple is refusing to give in so easily. In a recent update, judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled against Apple in a major injunction, and even referred the case for possible contempt charges. Apple disagreed with the judge's decision and said it would be appealing.
Source