Fortnite has gone dark on iPhones worldwide. Epic Games announced that Apple has blocked its latest attempt to bring the game back to the U.S. App Store and the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union. This move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing legal battle between the two tech giants, which began in 2020 when Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store over Epic’s attempt to bypass Apple’s in-app purchase fees.
In response, Epic Games filed a court motion on Friday, asking U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to order Apple to approve Fortnite for the U.S. App Store. Epic argues that Apple’s refusal to approve the game is a deliberate attempt to undermine a previous court ruling that requires Apple to allow developers to direct users to alternative payment methods. Epic claims that Apple has repeatedly told both the company and the court that it would approve Fortnite if the app complied with Apple’s guidelines, which Epic insists its current submission does.
The dispute stems from a 2021 ruling where Judge Rogers found that Apple had violated antitrust laws by restricting developers’ ability to inform users about alternative payment options. Despite Apple’s adjustments to its policies, Epic argues that the changes are insufficient and continue to impede competition. In April 2025, Judge Rogers ruled in favor of Epic, stating that Apple had willfully violated the previous injunction and imposed further restrictions on the company, including barring it from collecting fees from third-party payment methods and from restricting links to external payment options.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has criticized Apple’s actions, accusing the company of using the app review process to stifle competition. He also highlighted the presence of fake versions of Fortnite online, suggesting that Apple’s refusal to approve the legitimate app is harming users.
As the legal battle continues, the availability of Fortnite on iOS remains uncertain, leaving players and developers in limbo. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the future of app distribution and payment systems on mobile platforms.
For now, Fortnite remains offline on all iOS devices, and the legal showdown between Epic Games and Apple is far from over.
