Apple Denies Epic Games' Claim of Worldwide 'Fortnite' Ban: What's Really Going On?

Apple Refutes Epic Games' Claims About Blocking 'Fortnite'

May 16, 2025

Epic Games, the developer behind the popular game 'Fortnite,' claimed that Apple had blocked the game from the US App Store and removed it from European stores. However, Apple has denied these claims in a statement to Bloomberg. The dispute is part of an ongoing legal battle between the two companies.

Background

• Initial Claim: Epic Games stated that its submission of 'Fortnite' to the App Store was ignored by Apple, leading to the game being blocked in the US and removed from Europe.
• Apple's Response: Apple denies removing 'Fortnite' from European stores and does not address why it is refusing to accept the app in the US store. Epic Games has not provided further details on its claims of a worldwide ban.

Legal Context

• Court Ruling: In April 2025, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple had attempted to circumvent court conditions. She imposed more stringent rules, including allowing developers to use alternative in-app payment methods.
• Epic Games' Plan: After the ruling, Epic Games announced that 'Fortnite' would return to the App Store. However, it later complained that Apple was ignoring its submission.

Current Situation

• Reasons for Dispute: The conflict originated because Epic Games violated Apple's user agreements by using a third-party payment system, leading to its removal from the App Store in 2020.
• Appeal and Compliance: Apple is appealing against the court ruling but must comply with it in the meantime.
• Uncertainty: It remains unclear why Epic Games believed that allowing third-party payments would lead to 'Fortnite' returning to the App Store or why it does not release a Mac version of the game.