Gamers, brace yourselves: Epic Games’ wildly popular battle royale game, Fortnite, has been removed from Apple’s iPhone devices in the United States and the European Union as of Friday. The move comes amid an ongoing legal tussle between Epic Games and Apple that has been simmering since 2020.
Access to Fortnite via Apple’s iOS and the App Store is now unavailable worldwide until Apple decides to unblock it, according to Epic Games. While Epic did not specify the exact reason for the block, Apple stated that it had requested Epic Sweden to resubmit the app update without including the U.S. storefront to avoid affecting Fortnite in other regions.
“We did not take any action to remove the live version of Fortnite from alternative distribution marketplaces,” an Apple spokesperson commented.
The Battle Behind the Game
Epic Games, the U.S.-based studio backed by China’s Tencent, has risen to become one of the world’s largest game developers since launching Fortnite in 2017. The game’s last-player-standing format quickly captivated millions around the globe, including many in the Global South.
The friction between Epic and Apple began in 2020 when Epic challenged Apple’s policy of charging up to a 30% commission on in-app purchases, alleging it violated U.S. antitrust laws. The dispute escalated when Apple banned Fortnite from its App Store, prompting Epic to take legal action.
Just this month, Epic Games scored a legal victory against Apple, but the tensions are far from resolved. Late Friday, Epic asked a U.S. judge in California to hold Apple in contempt for blocking the return of Fortnite to the App Store in the U.S. Epic argued that, based on a prior court ruling, Apple should be compelled to allow the distribution of the game.
In their filing, Epic accused Apple of “blatant retaliation against Epic for challenging Apple’s anticompetitive behavior and exposing its lies to the court.” Apple has yet to respond to requests for comment outside regular business hours.
What This Means for Gamers
The removal of Fortnite from iPhones in key markets like the U.S. and EU has left many players in limbo. While Android users and other platforms remain unaffected, iOS gamers will have to wait until the companies resolve their differences.
For many young gamers in the Global South who look up to these tech giants, this clash highlights the complexities of digital marketplaces and the impact corporate decisions have on accessibility and gaming culture worldwide.
What’s Next?
As the legal battle continues, players can only hope for a swift resolution that brings Fortnite back to the App Store. Until then, the gaming community watches closely, awaiting the next move in this high-stakes showdown between Epic Games and Apple.
