Epic’s ongoing dispute with Apple over Fortnite’s availability on iOS devices has escalated, with Epic claiming Apple has prevented its Fortnite submission from reaching the U.S. App Store.
Earlier this month, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney announced that Fortnite would soon return to the U.S. iOS App Store and iPhones following a major court decision.
On April 30, a California U.S. Federal District Court ruled that Apple deliberately violated a court order in the Epic Games v. Apple case, mandating Apple to allow developers to provide alternative payment options outside apps.
In January, IGN reported that Sweeney had invested billions in Epic’s fight against Apple and Google over their app store practices. Sweeney told IGN this was a strategic, long-term commitment to Epic and Fortnite’s future, stating Epic could sustain the battle for decades.
Sweeney’s campaign to restore Fortnite on iPhones and Android devices without paying store fees is widely known. Epic seeks to avoid the standard 30% store fees on mobile game revenue by distributing Fortnite through its own Epic Games Store, bypassing Apple and Google’s control and profit share. This conflict led to Fortnite’s removal from iOS in 2020.
Following Sweeney’s tweet, expectations grew for Fortnite’s iOS return, but no progress has been made. Epic recently shared an update with IGN:
“Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission, preventing its release on the U.S. App Store and the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union. Regrettably, Fortnite on iOS remains offline globally until Apple reverses its decision.”
This is a significant setback for Epic, which has missed out on billions in revenue since Fortnite was removed from iPhones five years ago. Now, Tim Sweeney is directly appealing to Apple CEO Tim Cook via Twitter to reconsider.
“Hey Tim, how about letting our shared customers play Fortnite? Just an idea.”
Hey Tim, how about letting our shared customers play Fortnite? Just an idea.
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) May 15, 2025
Following the court ruling, Apple was referred to federal prosecutors for breaching the U.S. court order. “Apple’s ongoing efforts to stifle competition will not be tolerated,” said U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. “This is an injunction, not a discussion. There are no second chances for willfully ignoring a court order.”
The judge also referred Apple and its vice president of finance, Alex Roman, to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt investigation regarding their conduct. Roman’s testimony about Apple’s compliance with the injunction was “filled with misdirection and outright falsehoods,” the judge noted.
In response, Apple stated: “We strongly disagree with the ruling. We will comply with the court’s order while pursuing an appeal.” Last week, Apple requested a U.S. appeals court to temporarily halt the ruling in the Epic Games case.
