Fortnite is now officially unavailable on iOS globally, as confirmed by Epic Games on Friday. This decision follows Apple's recent move to block a bid to reinstate the immensely popular game on the App Store in the United States. According to an announcement made on the social media platform X, Epic Games stated, "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." As a result, Fortnite on iOS will remain offline worldwide until Apple decides to unblock the game.
Following a recent legal ruling, Epic Games attempted to submit Fortnite to Apple's U.S. App Store last week. This submission came a month after a judge determined that Apple could not impose a commission on purchases made by consumers outside of an iOS app. The ongoing conflict between Epic Games and Apple began in 2020 when Fortnite was removed from the App Store after Epic updated its software to allow users to link directly to its own website, thereby circumventing Apple's hefty 30% commission on in-app purchases.
Despite the challenges, Fortnite had been accessible on iPhones in Europe since last year through Epic Games' own digital store. This was made possible by the Digital Markets Act, which permits the use of third-party app stores in the European Union. However, in a concerning update, Epic Games announced on Friday that it had also been blocked from distributing Fortnite via its Epic Games Store for iOS in the EU, further complicating the situation for fans of the game.
As of now, the future of Fortnite on iOS remains uncertain. Epic Games continues to seek a resolution with Apple, while players worldwide are left waiting for updates regarding the game's reinstatement. The ongoing dispute highlights the broader tensions between app developers and platform holders regarding in-app purchase policies and the fee structures imposed by major tech companies.
