Fortnite Still Unavailable on iPhones in the EU and US Amid Epic Games–Apple Dispute
Epic Games’ popular video game Fortnite remained inaccessible on Apple’s iPhone devices in both the European Union and the United States as of Friday, the company said.
Access to Fortnite via Apple’s iOS and App Store platforms is currently blocked worldwide until Apple reverses its restrictions, according to a statement from Epic Games. The company did not specify why the game is currently blocked.
Apple, however, attributed the issue to Epic Sweden’s recent submission of an app update. Apple said it requested that Epic exclude the U.S. storefront from the update to avoid affecting Fortnite‘s availability in other regions.
“We did not take any action to remove the live version of Fortnite from alternative distribution marketplaces,” an Apple spokesperson said.
Epic Games, headquartered in the U.S. and backed by Chinese tech giant Tencent, is the world’s largest video game studio. Since its launch in 2017, Fortnite‘s battle royale format has drawn millions of players worldwide.
The ongoing conflict between Epic and Apple began in 2020 when Epic accused Apple of violating U.S. antitrust laws by taking up to 30% commission on in-app purchases. That dispute triggered a broader legal battle over app store policies.
Late Friday, Epic filed a motion in a California federal court asking a judge to hold Apple in contempt for allegedly blocking Fortnite’s reinstatement in the U.S. App Store. In its filing, Epic claimed Apple is defying a previous court ruling by preventing the game’s return.
Apple’s actions were described by Epic as “blatant retaliation” for challenging the tech giant’s alleged anticompetitive practices and misleading the court.
Apple had initially banned Fortnite from the App Store in 2020 but allowed it back in 2023 under pressure from EU regulators enforcing the Digital Markets Act. That year, Apple also approved Epic’s own marketplace app for iOS devices in Europe.
Earlier this month, Epic Games secured a legal victory against Apple, though the broader conflict over platform control and app distribution remains unresolved.
