Epic: Fortnite Offline Worldwide 'Until Apple Unblocks It'

[MacRumors]

Epic Games said today that Apple has blocked its attempt to bring Fortnite back to iOS devices, leaving the popular battle royale game unavailable on iPhones and iPads worldwide.

"Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission so we cannot release to the US App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union," Epic stated via its Fortnite account on X (Twitter). "Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it."

Apple banned the ‌Epic Games‌ developer account back in 2020 when ‌Epic Games‌ violated its ‌App Store‌ rules to add web-based purchases, kicking off a multi-year legal battle. Because the main ‌Epic Games‌ developer account continues to be banned, Epic submitted Fortnite to the U.S. ‌App Store‌ using an account from Epic Games Sweden, a subsidiary that Epic formed to create the ‌Epic Games‌ Store alternative app marketplace in the European Union.

The game was submitted for review on May 9, but after waiting over 120 hours without a response, Epic was forced to pull and resubmit its application to include the latest update.

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has been vocal about his frustration with the situation, claiming that Apple has not been returning the company's calls and that the review process typically moves much faster.

Before submitting Fortnite to the U.S. App Store, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said the company spoke with Apple about its plans – but never claimed Apple approved them. It remains unclear if Apple will allow Fortnite back, as the Epic v. Apple lawsuit confirmed that Apple has the right to ban Epic's account and isn't required to reinstate it.

It's the latest chapter in the ongoing legal battle between the two companies, which began in 2020 when Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store after Epic implemented direct payment options that bypassed Apple's 30% commission.

The game had briefly returned to iOS devices in the EU via the Epic Games Store, but that version has now also gone offline.

Article Link: Epic: Fortnite Offline Worldwide 'Until Apple Unblocks It'

 

[germanbeer007]

GOOD. Tim Sweeney deserves this.

Assuming it's true anyways. Apple always provides a reason for blocking any app. So it sounds like Tim is trying to ask for brownie social points lol

 

[MacUser16.]

Just put the Fortnite in the App Store 💔 (Just put the fries in the bag reference)

Edit: you cannot humble the unhumble-able

 

[Wanted797]

GOOD. Tim Sweeney deserves this.

Assuming it's true anyways. Apple always provides a reason for blocking any app. So it sounds like Tim is trying to ask for brownie social points lol

I think he was trying to use the recent win and wider public knowledge of the submission to try and see if Apple would knuckle under to avoid further negative press.

 

[james_c_1]

Apple are so petty and I love it hahaha

 

[davide_eu]

GOOD. Tim Sweeney deserves this.

Assuming it's true anyways. Apple always provides a reason for blocking any app. So it sounds like Tim is trying to ask for brownie social points lol

It's time for a$$le to be pushed in a corner.

"think different" has definitively died, under the greed.

 

[salamanderjuice]

GOOD. Tim Sweeney deserves this.

Assuming it's true anyways. Apple always provides a reason for blocking any app. So it sounds like Tim is trying to ask for brownie social points lol

Nah. Apple should get their greedy fingers outta users hardware that THEY paid for. If people wanna play Fortnite on their iPhone and Epic wants to provide that why should Apple be involved.

 

[germanbeer007]

It's time for a$$le to be pushed in a corner.

"think different" has definitively died, under the greed.

Tim Sweeney wants the 30% + $$$$ from epic games store on iOS. That's greed. Sorry.

 

[germanbeer007]

Nah. Apple should get their greedy fingers outta users hardware that THEY paid for.

Nope. People paid for the iPhone knowing Apple is the gatekeeper.

 

[attohs]

Nah. Apple should get their greedy fingers outta users hardware that THEY paid for. If people wanna play Fortnite on their iPhone and Epic wants to provide that why should Apple be involved.

Why doesn’t Epic make their own phone? Or is that an expensive endeavor?

 

[Pezimak]

"Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission so we cannot release to the US App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union,"

The way these two are behaving is like the children who play the game (Adult players not included in that comment).

 

[Doodah7]

Why doesn’t Epic make their own phone? Or is that an expensive endeavor?

Why don't Apple make their own Fortnite? Or is that an expensive endeavour?

 

[mystery hill]

Why can't they release it on the Epic Games Store in the EU? That should just require notarization, and should not be subject to App Store approval.

What is the point of third-party app stores if Apple can block apps from being published?

 

[salamanderjuice]

Why doesn’t Epic make their own phone? Or is that an expensive endeavor?

Why doesn't Apple just make their own hit games? Or is that an expensive endeavor?

Instead they just tithe everyone else.

 

[mazz0]

Why doesn’t Epic make their own phone? Or is that an expensive endeavor?

This is a somewhat specious argument. Epic could make the best phone in the world, with a brilliant OS (I assume you mean make their own OS too, otherwise it's just another Android phone), but it wouldn't sell because of the barriers to entry. The market doesn't really lend itself to completion from new entrants does it?

 

[rumorphobe]

I wonder if there’s a lesson here, that perhaps suing a company you want to help you is not the smartest move?

 

[attohs]

Why don't Apple make their own Fortnite? Or is that an expensive endeavour?

By an Android. You’re not forced to buy an iPhone that you know has these rules.

 

[attohs]

This is a somewhat specious argument. Epic could make the best phone in the world, with a brilliant OS (I assume you mean make their own OS too, otherwise it's just another Android phone), but it wouldn't sell because of the barriers to entry. The market doesn't really lend itself to completion from new entrants does it?

Then perhaps epic needs to play by the established rules. They didn’t, and a court upheld their ban. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

 

[hokuspokus]

As someone who obviously doesn't understand all these rules/laws, what's stopping them from releasing Fortnite in the EU on their alternative Epic Games app store?

 

[rumorphobe]

Tim Sweeney wants the 30% + $$$$ from epic games store on iOS. That's greed. Sorry.

Yes it’s ridiculous for him to complain. A one year old subscription under Apple’s terms would be 12% Tim Epic charges… 12% on his own App Store. How can one argue against middleman charges and then charge them himself? Why doesn’t the court enjoin Epic’s app store fees? No logical consistency

 

[rumorphobe]

Then perhaps epic needs to play by the established rules. They didn’t, and a court upheld their ban. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

Talk about winning the battle but losing the war 😮‍💨

 

[CACTUARU]

Jesus, people are still playing this garbage?

 

[kk1ro]

I just really can't understand the end-goal for Sweeney, here.

They want to be on Apple's and Google's storefronts, accessing hundreds of millions of potential users, making tens of millions of dollars in yearly revenue on the platform, but using external payment services to avoid paying a single penny apart from the $99/year (or $25 lifetime, in Google's case) developer fee?

Like, I agree that developers should not be locked in to using Apple's or Google's payment system and that there should be alternatives, but arguing that you should not pay any fee to the store owner is frankly nuts (and also hypocritical, since the Epic Games Store does charge a percentage of revenue for games sold there, regardless of where that revenue comes from, except in very specific circumstances).

Apple's store fee should be lower - 30% is borderline theft - and it makes sense that they allow external payment providers, but they should be allowed to take a cut - albeit smaller, of course - from those payments as well.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I don't support either here. Billionaires fighting billionaires.

Both sides need to put consumer choice first, instead of this silly squabble.

 

[aidler]

I’m not a fan of Fortnite; their business model has its own flaws, but I’m wholeheartedly for consumer choice. Consumers should have the choice to use any software they like on any platform they use and use any payment system of their choosing. Apple's decision is once again regrettable.