Fortnite has vanished once again from Apple’s ecosystem after the tech giant rejected Epic Games’ latest submission, cutting off iOS players worldwide and reigniting the long-running feud between the two companies.
According to an official post on the X account of Fortnite, the game will remain unavailable worldwide until Apple lifts the block. Keep in mind, Fortnite was re-released for iOS users in the EU this year. Here’s what the official Fortnite account had to say:
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. Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it.
— Fortnite (@Fortnite) May 16, 2025
Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, recently stated that Fortnite would return for U.S. users this week. He mentioned that the Epic Games EU account would be used to make it happen. But now, with the game blocked worldwide, Fortnite’s future on iOS is looking uncertain. Sweeney also confirmed that Thursday’s update was delayed because the game was under review for App Store submission.
Why did Apple reject Epic Games’ latest Fortnite submission
Apple rejected Epic Games’ latest Fortnite submission primarily due to ongoing legal disputes and concerns over compliance with App Store guidelines, including the use of external payment links. Epic had resubmitted the game using its EU developer account for the US App Store after a court ruling limited Apple’s ability to block such links, but Apple delayed action pending a Ninth Circuit appeal and cited prior violations from Epic’s 2020 bypass of in-app purchase rules.
Key Rejection Reasons
Apple viewed Epic’s history of “willfully violating” guidelines-starting with Fortnite’s direct payment implementation in 2020-as justification to block reinstatement, even under the new submission that supported both Apple’s system and external options. No specific rejection email details were publicly shared by Apple, but Epic accused the company of retaliating via its review process, while Apple insisted it would review post-appeal. This extended the block to EU third-party stores like Epic’s own.
Legal Context
A US judge had previously ruled Apple could terminate Epic’s account legally, removing any obligation to restore Fortnite. Epic filed motions claiming contempt, but Apple approved a version briefly around May 20, 2025, before renewed issues offline globally. No resolution appears by January 2026.
What specific reason did Apple give for the rejection
Apple did not publicly disclose a specific technical reason, such as bugs or guideline violations, for rejecting Epic Games’ latest Fortnite submission. Instead, reports indicate Apple cited Epic’s history of “willful violations” from the 2020 dispute, where Fortnite bypassed App Store payment rules, and delayed review pending a Ninth Circuit appeal on external links.
Apple’s Stated Position
Apple referenced its legal right to terminate Epic’s developer account, as affirmed by prior court rulings, removing any obligation to approve the app despite the new submission supporting both in-app purchases and external payments. Epic shared that Apple’s rejection notice lacked detailed justification beyond these points, accusing the company of using the process to block competition.
Epic’s Response
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney called it retaliation, filing motions for judicial intervention, but no public rejection email from Apple with precise wording surfaced in mid-2025 coverage. The situation remained unresolved into 2026 based on available reports.
