Apple Might Be Forced to Bring Fortnite Back to U.S. App Store

[MacRumors]

Epic Games is continuing its campaign to get Fortnite back on the iPhone in the U.S., and it's looking like Apple might have to fold. Last week, Apple refused to allow Fortnite in the U.S. App Store and ignored Epic Games' submission, and because Epic Games tied the update to Fortnite in the EU, Fortnite has been offline on iOS devices worldwide since Friday.

With Apple blocking Fortnite from returning to the U.S. App Store, Epic Games told the court that Apple was violating the injunction and asked that Apple be forced to approve the app. The judge overseeing the case responded to Epic's request today, and she is sounding more and more fed up with Apple's continued defiance and Epic's grousing.

If Apple does not approve Fortnite in the U.S. App Store and resolve its current dispute with Epic Games without the court's intervention, there will be a hearing on May 27, and the "Apple official" who oversees compliance will need to attend in person. That could mean App Store chief Phil Schiller or another executive.

The Court is in receipt of Epic Games, Inc.'s Motion to Enforce the Injunction. The Court thus issues this Order to Show Cause as to why the motion should not be granted. Briefing shall occur on the schedule listed below and shall include the legal authority upon which Apple contends that it can ignore this Court's order having not received a stay from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal even though its request was filed twelve days ago on May 7, 2025.

Obviously, Apple is fully capable of resolving this issue without further briefing or a hearing. However, if the parties do not file a joint notice that this issue is resolved, and this Court's intervention is required, the Apple official who is personally responsible for ensuring compliance shall personally appear at the hearing hereby set for Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, Oakland, California, Courtroom One.

Apple told Epic Games [PDF] that the injunction does not change its legal right to have terminated the Epic Games developer account back in 2020. Apple also reiterated its stance that it will not consider allowing Fortnite to return to the App Store until all U.S. litigation has ended. At the current time, Apple is appealing the court's ruling that forced it to change its U.S. App Store rules to allow developers to link customers to purchase options available outside of the App Store. That appeal is still pending and Apple has not yet heard from the court.

It's possible Apple will want to avoid further court time and will approve Fortnite in the U.S., but Apple may also opt to return to court to argue that it has the right to continue to deny the reinstatement of the Epic Games developer account and Fortnite's return to the App Store.

Apple has otherwise complied with the court's injunction, and has allowed apps like Spotify and Patreon to submit app updates that include links to web purchase options instead of in-app purchases.

As of now, Fortnite is still offline worldwide. Epic Games could submit the EU version of Fortnite alone so that it could be distributed through the Epic Games alternative app marketplace in the European Union, but Epic is opting not to do so. Epic Games is placing the blame for Fortnite's absence in the European Union on Apple, and is lamenting the "sad" situation on social media. Epic Games has used Fortnite's popularity in the past, attempting to get Fortnite players to pressure Apple to accept the app.

Article Link: Apple Might Be Forced to Bring Fortnite Back to U.S. App Store

 

[MacUser16.]

Does anyone here on MacRumors play Fortnite?

 

[germanbeer007]

Tim Sweeney is a parasite. Freeloads off of the work of others.

 

[iVoid]

Did the court order requiring Apple to allow third party payment links in apps state that they had to restore the Epic US developer account account?
I don't recall that being mentioned in the news stories about this case.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Oh everyone will be so pleased!

 

[jz0309]

what I'm struggling with is that same judge ruled that Apple is in its right to ban Epic and all subsidiaries. So why can't Apple do so now?

 

[GuyDouche]

All the gnards in here taking a steaming dump on sWeeney. I for one don’t care but enjoy Fortnite from time to time. Apple got played at their own game. You can only monopolize for so long until the environment catches up. Let this be a lesson to Apple and all the other giants out there, never too big to fail. It’s not a matter of if, but when.

 

[LeeW]

Does anyone here on MacRumors play Fortnite?

Fortnite has 650m registered users and 110m active each month, you can bet there are more on here than you think playing it and won't admit it.

 

[GuyDouche]

Does anyone here on MacRumors play Fortnite?

I do. Although the last time I played was in 2020 with my then XS

 

[mrjtown]

has anyone actually asked if anyone wants to play Fortnite on an iPhone or even iPad?

I can't imagine anything worse than squinting at my phone trying to play it on my iPhone.

 

[GuyDouche]

has anyone actually asked if anyone wants to play Fortnite on an iPhone or even iPad?

I can't imagine anything worse than squinting at my phone trying to play it on my iPhone.

I actually prefer it on mobile

 

[UpsetTheAppleCart]

“If you wish to submit for review a Fortnite app for the U.S. storefront of the App Store, please do so separately through an entity other than Epic Sweden that has executed the appropriate schedule to the DPLA.”

If I understand this correctly, Epic could get Fortnite back in the US App Store simply by using a different dev account. But of course, they’re choosing to be petty about it.

Edit: but I suppose that contradicts this

Apple also reiterated its stance that it will not consider allowing Fortnite to return to the App Store until all U.S. litigation has ended.

 

[Timpetus]

My understanding is that a judge already told Apple they don't need to let Fortnite back on. Has that changed?

Also, this is pretty conclusive evidence that it was always about the money for Epic. They lied when they claimed to be fighting for all the devs on the App Store, because they won't take the win for everyone else unless they can get theirs, too.

 

[GMShadow]

Judge Temper Tantrum needs to be removed from the case (and likely from the bench pending a review of her past cases).

 

[Cameront9]

Did the court order requiring Apple to allow third party payment links in apps state that they had to restore the Epic US developer account account?
I don't recall that being mentioned in the news stories about this case.

This is what I don't understand. The same judge previously ruled that Apple was within their rights to ban Epic and any subsidiaries.

 

[Cameront9]

Judge Temper Tantrum needs to be removed from the case (and likely from the bench pending a review of her past cases).

The judge that ruled in favor of Apple in 9/10 parts of the case?

 

[hoodafoo]

I'm so tired of apple gatekeeping

 

[HouseLannister]

I'm so tired of apple gatekeeping

I’m so tired of Tim Sweeney not reading the ToS.

 

[TechWhisperer]

Tim Sweeney is a POS! FAFO!

 

[zahuh]

So EPIC gets banned in 2020 from the App Store for using external payments. 4-5 years later, the courts agree with EPIC to allow external payments, EPIC tries to get back on the App Store since what Apple did was deemed illegal, and now they can't. Seems SHADY AF by APPLE. You can be an Apple fanboy but this is crazy Apple

 

[verdi1987]

If I understand this correctly, Epic could get Fortnite back in the US App Store simply by using a different dev account. But of course, they’re choosing to be petty about it.

Edit: but I suppose that contradicts this

Epic did submit it for approval worldwide using its European account. Apple denied it and asked them to resubmit it without including the U.S. App Store.

 

[verdi1987]

Judge Temper Tantrum needs to be removed from the case (and likely from the bench pending a review of her past cases).

If you call being extremely patient a temper tantrum.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

Irrespective of how I personally feel about this, I am curious how a judgement on payment methods can be applied to forcing a store to allow in a title that they dont' want to. It seems like this has to be a whole new case doesn't it?

 

[dominiongamma]

I’m so tired of Tim Sweeney not reading the ToS.

Apple breached their own contracts plenty of times

 

[sofargone]

I dont understand why theres is no issue with Mac Os but apple goes so hard for IOS, make it make sense, greedy a** company