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Epic Games Asks Judge to Force Apple to Approve Fortnite for US App Store

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Epic Games on Friday filed a court motion asking District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to order Apple to approve Fortnite for the US App Store, in another escalation of the ongoing legal battle between the two companies.

fortnite_apple_featured.jpg

In the filing, Epic claims Apple is in contempt of the judge's April order that restricted Apple from rejecting apps over their use of outside payment links. Epic argues that Apple's refusal to review its Fortnite submission until after a pending Ninth Circuit ruling amounts to retaliation for its legal challenges.

According to a letter from Apple shared by Epic, Apple stated it "won't take action on the Fortnite app submission until after the Ninth Circuit rules on our pending request for a partial stay of the new injunction." Epic contends this delay violates Apple's previous assurances to both Epic and the court that it would approve Fortnite if the app complied with Apple's guidelines.

The dispute has already affected Fortnite's availability globally. Epic claims its game disappeared from the EU App Store on Friday because of Apple's decision to block its US submission. Apple countered by asking Epic to resubmit the app without including the US storefront "so as not to impact Fortnite in other geographies."

Epic is seeking enforcement of the court's injunction, a contempt ruling against Apple, and a requirement that Apple "accept any compliant Epic app, including Fortnite, for distribution on the U.S. storefront of the App Store."

The case hinges on whether Judge Gonzalez Rogers will find Apple in contempt again, as she did in her April 30 ruling where she expressed frustration with Apple's compliance efforts.

Article Link: Epic Games Asks Judge to Force Apple to Approve Fortnite for US App Store
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/05/19/epic-asks-judge-apple-approve-fortnite-app-store/
Johnny907 said:
Yeah Petty is not a great look for Apple, especially with the multiple lawsuits they’re dealing with on several fronts currently.
Just approve the game and move on so both sides can stop talking about it and gamers can be happy. Is that really such a big ask?
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Bold of you to assume Tim Sweeney will EVER shut up about Apple and Fortnite.
 
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Johnny907 said:
Yeah Petty is not a great look for Apple, especially with the multiple lawsuits they’re dealing with on several fronts currently.
Just approve the game and move on so both sides can stop talking about it and gamers can be happy. Is that really such a big ask?
Click to expand...
hahaha I don't think Apple is going to let Epic win that easily. They have no obligation to approve the US Store game.
 
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Wanted797 said:
hahaha I don't think Apple is going to let Epic win that easily. They have no obligation to approve the US Store game.
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The judge is already pretty unhappy with Apple. Because they made statements in court that they would approve Fortnite if it met App Store guidelines, which it now does, I reckon the judge at this point is going to force their hand.
 
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Mooooooooooommmmmmmmm! Apple won’t let me put my game on their App Store! I’ve been asking really nicely but they’re still saying no and, and, and, I really want to put my game on their store so I can get millions of Fortnite moneys but they won’t let me. Can you make them put my game on their store please mommy? 🥺 🥺🥺

That said I do think Apple is being very petty here.
 
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Previous judge already ruled that Apple is legally allowed to ban Epic from the App Store.

I'm pretty unhappy with Apple these days. But I'm totally behind Cook on this one.

Sweeny needs to learn he cant have his cake and eat it.

Epic made a contract with Apple eons ago, by placing an App on the App store. Now Sweeny isn't happy with the terms of that contract Epic willingly entered into, he wants it all his own way, whilst also setting up his own App Store and levying a fee for it too! Hypocrisy at its finest.

Never been a gamer. Never had feelings toward Epic either way. but these days I dislike them more than I do Apple!

I REALLY hope the judge sides with Apple on this one.
 
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Johnny907 said:
How? Host the initial download. Link to leaderboards via Game Center. Plenty of free games already do that without Apple getting bent out of shape.
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Same rules apply to everyone. Sweeney wants an exception and he's not getting it, and if it's not for being a total jerk in all this, it's because he purposely broke the rules that he agreed to on a platform that helped him significantly gain popularity. If you come to my house and I tell you not to walk in shoes, and you still walk in shoes and I kick you out and tell you to never come back, and you keep on coming back and I keep telling you you aren't welcome here, am I the problem? No, it's you. You can bend backwards as much as you want, I don't want you here. Makes sense, no?
 
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Johnny907 said:
Yeah Petty is not a great look for Apple, especially with the multiple lawsuits they’re dealing with on several fronts currently.
Just approve the game and move on so both sides can stop talking about it and gamers can be happy. Is that really such a big ask?
Click to expand...
Why is this needed if Epic has their own marketplace where you can download and install the game?
 
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Interesting. Apple removed Fortnite originally on the basis that it allowed outside payment links. Judge ruled that Apple can block anyone for good reason, but not for outside payment links.

Did the judge forget to order Fortnite back on the App Store due to Apple failing to provide good cause after numerous depositions and trial testimony? Or will the judge let Apple simply reject any app for any reason it comes up with except outside payment links (essentially neutering the judges own order since Apple always blames security without basis)? Are more Apple executives willing to risk criminal contempt? Is Epic doing this as a martyr only to get the legislators attention since they didn’t seek it in the first contempt order? Apple seems willing to test every inch of this order instead of moving past this PR fire.
 
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Appleman3546 said:
Interesting. Apple removed Fortnite originally on the basis that it allowed outside payment links. Judge ruled that Apple can block anyone for good reason, but not for outside payment links.

Did the judge forget to order Fortnite back on the App Store due to Apple failing to provide good cause after numerous depositions and trial testimony? Or will the judge let Apple simply reject any app for any reason it comes up with except outside payment links (essentially neutering the judges own order since Apple always blames security without basis)?
Click to expand...

Apple removed Fornite originally on the basis that they knowingly and intentionally broke the rules that they agreed to at the time. That alone is enough for a justified lifetime ban.
 
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Appleman3546 said:
Interesting. Apple removed Fortnite originally on the basis that it allowed outside payment links. Judge ruled that Apple can block anyone for good reason, but not for outside payment links.

Did the judge forget to order Fortnite back on the App Store due to Apple failing to provide good cause after numerous depositions and trial testimony? Or will the judge let Apple simply reject any app for any reason it comes up with except outside payment links (essentially neutering the judges own order since Apple always blames security without basis)?
Click to expand...
Apple originally removed Fortnite because Epic introduced their own IAP, not a link to an outside payment.

Apple cannot be forced to do business with Epic no matter how compliant their app is.
 
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I teach my daughter how to be polite after making mistakes and offer an apology. Epic / Sweeney just double down with their stupid behavior. Maybe something like ‘Hey Apple, sorry we made a mistake when we broke our agreement with Fortnite, how can we make this right and get our game back on the store’ would help.
 
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