Epic Resubmits Fortnite to U.S. App Store After Not Hearing From Apple for 120+ Hours

[MacRumors]

On Friday, Epic Games submitted Fortnite to the U.S. App Store, and since then, we've been waiting to see if Apple would approve the game and allow it back on the iPhone and the iPad. There's been no word from Apple so far, but Epic Games opted to pull its first App Store review request, and has now resubmitted Fortnite.

Fortnite leaker Shiina shared the news, with the information reposted by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney. According to Sweeney, Epic Games needs to release a weekly Fortnite update with new content on Friday, and platforms need to be updated simultaneously. The company pulled the prior version, and submitted a new version with the update for review.

Epic Games apparently had not heard from Apple since submitting Fortnite to the App Store on Friday. "The first request went unreviewed for 120+ hours," wrote Shiina. Apple's App Review guidelines suggest that 90 percent of App Store submissions are reviewed in less than 24 hours, but it's clear that Fortnite's return to the App Store is not straightforward for Apple.

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.

Prior to submitting Fortnite to the U.S. App Store, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said that Epic "conversed" with Apple about its plan, but at no point did he say that Apple had okayed the idea. It's still not clear if Apple will approve Fortnite for the U.S. App Store, because the Epic Games vs. Apple lawsuit made it clear that Apple was well within its rights to terminate Epic's account, and does not have an obligation to allow Fortnite into the App Store.

Epic Games is trying to bring Fortnite back to the U.S. App Store because Apple is now required to allow U.S. developers to direct customers to web-based purchase options available outside of the App Store, which is what Fortnite got banned for in the first place. The order was part of an injunction levied by the judge overseeing Epic Games vs. Apple, and it is now being enforced. Apple is appealing the ruling, but has to follow it until Apple hears from the appeals court.

Sweeney said that he would be "very surprised" if Apple "decided to brave the geopolitical storm of blocking a major app from iOS," and it is true that Apple might not want to risk further angering the judge overseeing the case.

Article Link: Epic Resubmits Fortnite to U.S. App Store After Not Hearing From Apple for 120+ Hours

 

[germanbeer007]

Well gee, Epic intentionally broke the rules of the App Store. And now they want expedited review along with 30% cut and their game store on the platform they didn't build at all.

Tim Sweeney is a greedy ************

 

[waquzy]

Epic is like one of them annoying exes trying to get hold of you after a break up.

 

[jz0309]

as commented to the previous article about this: until that appeals process is completed, ruled on, nothing will happen.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

as said in the previous article about this: until that appeals process is completed, ruled on, nothing will happen.

The judge didn't stay the ruling waiting on appeal; it applied immediately. There is also no guarantee an appeal will even be accepted by a higher court.

 

[SteveJUAE]

Well I thought it would take two weeks after all it is fortnight/fortnite

 

[MrENGLISH]

Epic is like one of them annoying exes trying to get hold of you after a break up.

More like an ex who tried to extort you, you broke it off, the courts ended up granting them one of their requests costing you millions of dollars, and now they want to act like they are your friend.

 

[sw1tcher]

Epic getting 👻ed by Apple 😂

 

[jz0309]

The judge didn't stay the ruling waiting on appeal; it applied immediately. There is also no guarantee an appeal will even be accepted by a higher court.

let me re-phrase: until Apple knows the outcome of the appeal they files - nothing will happen

 

[bluecoast]

Apple is no doubt consulting with lots of lawyers to see if they can ban this submission and/or stalling to see if they can get a stay of execution with their own appeal.

 

[Johnbronwyn]

I’m disappointed in Tim Cook specifically for not addressing this. For me personally, I feel Apple has less value if they don’t let Fortnite back into the App Store.

 

[d686546s]

Neither side really comes off particularly well in the whole thing.

At the end of the day Apple is preventing its own customers from playing Fortnite out of pettiness. Personally I don't care because it's not my thing, but if it was I'd be very annoyed with Apple.

 

[UpsetTheAppleCart]

Why should Apple give them a second chance when there’s been no change in attitude? The CEO must be a few peas short of a casserole if he thinks he can bad-mouth Apple while attempting to get his app reinstated.

 

[Appleman3546]

Interesting that Apple has not responded at all… usually they have some pro-apple spin on something that ignores the issue. I can only imagine that unlike a normal review of an app, lawyers are getting involved in this review.

 

[cocky jeremy]

What part of them being banned do they not comprehend? Apple doesn't want you, go away.

 

[svish]

Will be interesting to see what will happen over the next few days. Apple might like to delay it as far as possible.

 

[Starfia]

At the end of the day Apple is preventing its own customers from playing Fortnite out of pettiness.

Each company has made choices through this story, but it seems clear enough that the conflict amounts to more than pettiness. If we are indeed tabulating pettiness, Epic wins by a considerable factor.

(I suppose it would be decent of me to say Sweeney wins, specifically. I have no idea how any other single individual on Epic's team feels about what Sweeney has said and done over the years. If I decided I had to stay on the team, I imagine I'd remain rather introverted.)

 

[MTWomg]

More unethical and quasi-legal behavior from the rent seekers.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Neither side really comes off particularly well in the whole thing.

At the end of the day Apple is preventing its own customers from playing Fortnite out of pettiness. Personally I don't care because it's not my thing, but if it was I'd be very annoyed with Apple.

Agreed. Two beyond giant companies squabbling while the consumer, who actually uses and pays for said products, are left out of any decisions.

 

[IceCool]

...

Hardware ≠ software. You pay for the hardware, and that hardware is yours. But you do not own iOS or any of its services. You’re a user of them.

It would be different should users be charged to use iOS, similar to how OS’s used to be paid.

 

[Cameront9]

The judge didn't stay the ruling waiting on appeal; it applied immediately. There is also no guarantee an appeal will even be accepted by a higher court.

The ruling by the judge said nothing at all about Apple having to admit Epic to their store or even that Apple had to admit any company at all.

It ain't happening.

 

[jz0309]

Sweeney said that he would be "very surprised" if Apple "decided to brave the geopolitical storm of blocking a major app from iOS," and it is true that Apple might not want to risk further angering the judge overseeing the case.

Sweeney's comment is just what his opinion is, nothing else. He's entitled to that.

Apple not wanting to risk further angering the judge - that comment does not make any sense at all to me. Apple appealed the judge's ruling, so challenging the judge's authority/ruling. If I were the judge, that would anger me the most, but I'm not the judge now a legal expert ...

 

[davide_eu]

let me re-phrase: until Apple knows the outcome of the appeal they files - nothing will happen

It doesn't work in this way...

 

[davide_eu]

It's time for the court to push even harder.

 

[Someyoungguy]

I’m disappointed in Tim Cook specifically for not addressing this. For me personally, I feel Apple has less value if they don’t let Fortnite back into the App Store.

And this, right here, is the cost of an app. store monopoly, and why agencies like the DOJ bring suits. We all suffer because Apple chooses to play petty, illegal games.