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

Epic Games continues its contentious battle with Apple over the future of Fortnite on iOS devices, with the latest development involving Epic accusing Apple of obstructing its Fortnite submission to the U.S. App Store. Earlier this month, Epic's CEO, Tim Sweeney, announced that Fortnite would soon return to the U.S. iOS App Store following a pivotal court decision.

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 case. The order mandated Apple to allow developers to offer alternative purchasing methods outside of their apps. Despite this ruling, Epic's plans to relaunch Fortnite on iOS have been thwarted.

Epic's Tim Sweeney remains steadfast in his mission to challenge Apple and Google's control over their app ecosystems. In January, IGN reported on Sweeney's significant financial commitment to this battle, which he views as a long-term investment in Epic and Fortnite's future. Sweeney has expressed his readiness to continue this fight for decades if necessary.

The core issue revolves around Epic's refusal to pay the customary 30% store fees on mobile game revenue. Epic aims to distribute Fortnite through its own Epic Games Store, bypassing the fees imposed by Apple and Google. This disagreement led to Fortnite's initial exclusion from iOS platforms back in 2020.

Following Sweeney's announcement, expectations were high for Fortnite's return to iOS. However, Epic recently informed IGN that Apple has blocked their Fortnite submission, preventing its release on the U.S. App Store and the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union. As a result, Fortnite remains unavailable on iOS worldwide until Apple lifts the block.

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 ruling, Apple faced further legal consequences. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers referred Apple and one of its executives, Alex Roman, to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt investigation, citing deliberate non-compliance with the court's order. The judge emphasized that "this is an injunction, not a negotiation," and warned that willful disregard of court orders would not be tolerated.

In response to the court's decision, Apple stated its disagreement and intention to comply while appealing the ruling. Last week, Apple requested a pause on the ruling from the U.S. appeals court, indicating ongoing legal tensions in the Epic Games case.