Epic Games requested a federal court order against Apple to compel the immediate approval of Fortnite on the U.S. App Store, escalating a years-long legal confrontation over digital marketplace monopolies.
Escalating the Battle for iOS Market Access
In a new court filing submitted to Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, Epic Games asked the court to mandate that Apple “accept any compliant version of Fortnite onto the U.S. storefront of the App Store.” The motion represents the latest legal push to reverse Apple’s ongoing exclusion of the popular battle royale game.
Background: Antitrust Disputes and Injunction Violations
The two companies have been locked in litigation over Apple’s App Store rules, specifically focusing on mandatory in-app purchase commissions. Epic secured a key legal milestone last month when Judge Gonzalez Rogers ruled Apple was in “willful violation” of an injunction prohibiting anti-competitive steering practices. The court’s finding signaled a path forward for Fortnite’s return to iOS alongside alternative payment mechanisms for third-party developers.
Disagreements Over Worldwide App Store Bans
Following Apple’s announcement that it intends to appeal the ruling, Epic disclosed on Friday that Apple continues to block Fortnite from the U.S. App Store while obstructing its distribution on the European Epic Games Store. Epic released a statement summarizing the situation: “Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it.”
Apple publicly contested Epic’s characterization of the situation, denying that it halted distribution outside the United States. Apple asserted that it advised Epic Sweden to “resubmit the app update without including the U.S. storefront of the App Store so as not to impact Fortnite in other geographies.”
Apple Holds Approval Pending Ninth Circuit Decision
Addressing the specific block in the United States, Epic submitted a letter signed by Apple legal representative Mark A. Perry. The document states: “Apple has determined not to take action on the Fortnite app submission until after the Ninth Circuit rules on our pending request for a partial stay of the new injunction.”
Accusations of Developer Retaliation
Epic’s filing contends that Apple’s refusal deprives the studio of “the ability to take advantage of the pro-competitive rules it helped usher in.” The publisher further asserts that Apple is “punishing” Epic by locking it out of the ecosystem, thereby sending a direct warning to other software developers who might challenge Apple’s commercial terms.
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