Apple has once again blocked Fortnite's return to the iPhone. After a four-year standoff, Epic Games resubmitted the game to the US App Store in early May, but Apple blocked its entry this Friday, the 16th. The ban came despite an optimistic announcement from Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney about a possible return to the iOS platform.
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Epic confirmed the ban in an official post on X (formerly Twitter) and stated that it will keep Fortnite off both the US App Store and alternative stores in Europe. This means the game can no longer be installed on iPhones in any region where Apple operates under specific rules.
Apple vs. Epic dispute remains unclear
The decision caused a stir, particularly in the European Union, where the game was also banned from distribution on the Epic Games Store and AltStore PAL. Both are independent alternatives to the App Store, suggesting the ban may be related to criteria Apple hasn't yet explained or to how Epic used its European account to attempt to publish the game in the US.
Tensions between the companies began in 2020, when Epic accused Apple of monopoly. The company even referenced the dystopia depicted in the book 1984 to criticize Apple's policies. The provocation, however, backfired, leading to Fortnite's ban from the App Store.
Critics also pointed out that Epic itself used its market power to provoke Apple and force a lawsuit. Epic planned the maneuver to publicly challenge App Store rules and seek legal changes favorable to its products.
American court did not reverse the game's exclusion
In January of last year, the U.S. Supreme Court officially settled the dispute. The ruling barred Epic from continuing to claim that Apple violated antitrust laws. In return, the court forced Apple to review some iOS policies and allow greater openness to developers.
Despite the resolution, Fortnite wasn't automatically reinstated to the App Store. Its return depended on agreements between the companies and Epic's adaptation to Apple's new guidelines. Still, this month's resubmission revived the hopes of iOS gamers.
However, the new block shows that the conflict remains unresolved. Despite Sweeney's public peace offering, in which he proposed closing the lawsuits and re-adapting the game, Apple decided to maintain the restriction. The official justification has not yet been released.
Resending with European account may have influenced the veto
Epic's recent attempt involved using a European account to resubmit the game to the US store. This strategy may have been interpreted as a further attempt to circumvent Apple's rules, which would have led to the immediate rejection of the release. It's unclear whether this action violated any specific guidelines.
Apple's silence regarding the reasons for the blockage fuels doubts about the possibility of Fortnite returning to iOS. The company's decision affects not only North American users but also players in the European Union, who now face restrictions even on alternative stores.
Epic, for its part, maintains that the game will only be available when Apple releases access on the platforms it controls. For now, Fortnite remains off Apple devices, which reinforces that the dispute is far from over.
