Epic Claims Apple Blocks Fortnite's U.S. App Store Return; Sweeney Tweets Cook

The ongoing feud between Epic Games and Apple regarding the future of Fortnite on iOS devices has escalated, with Epic accusing Apple of obstructing its ability to release the game on the U.S. App Store. Following a significant court ruling earlier this month, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney announced that Fortnite would soon return to the U.S. iOS App Store. However, Epic's plans were thwarted when Apple allegedly blocked the submission.

On April 30, a U.S. Federal District Court in California ruled that Apple had deliberately violated a court order in the Epic Games v. Apple lawsuit. The order mandated Apple to allow developers to provide alternative payment methods outside of their apps. This ruling came after years of legal battles, with Epic spending billions to challenge the app store practices of both Apple and Google. In January, IGN reported on Tim Sweeney's commitment to this fight, viewing it as a crucial long-term investment for Epic and Fortnite.

The core of the dispute revolves around Epic's refusal to pay the customary 30% store fees on mobile game revenue. Instead, Epic aims to distribute Fortnite through its own Epic Games Store, bypassing the fees charged by Apple and Google. This disagreement led to Fortnite's removal from iOS devices back in 2020.

Despite Sweeney's announcement that Fortnite would return to iOS, the game remains unavailable. Epic has now informed IGN that Apple's actions have not only blocked the U.S. release but also prevented the game from being released on the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union. As a result, Fortnite will remain offline worldwide until Apple lifts the block.

This development is a significant blow to Epic, which has seen billions in potential revenue lost since Fortnite was removed from iPhones five years ago. In response, Tim Sweeney has publicly appealed to Apple CEO Tim Cook via Twitter, urging him to reconsider and allow mutual customers to access Fortnite.

Hi Tim. How about if you let our mutual customers access Fortnite? Just a thought.

— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) May 15, 2025

Following the court's decision, Apple was referred to federal prosecutors for violating the court order. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers emphasized that "Apple’s continued attempts to interfere with competition will not be tolerated," and that the court's injunction must be respected without further negotiation. The judge also referred Apple and one of its executives, Alex Roman, to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt investigation due to misleading testimony about compliance with the injunction.

In response to the ruling, Apple stated its disagreement and intention to comply with the order while also planning to appeal. Last week, Apple requested a pause on the ruling from the U.S. appeals court.