Apple blocks Fortnite access worldwide amid renewed dispute with Epic Games

Access to Fortnite on iOS devices has been shut down globally, following Apple’s latest decision to block the game on its App Store in the United States and prevent its distribution through Epic Games’ own store in the European Union. Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite, announced the news on Friday, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two tech giants.

Epic stated that Apple’s action has rendered Fortnite offline for all iOS users, saying via its official social media account: “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.” The company indicated that the game will remain inaccessible on iOS platforms until Apple reverses its decision.

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

The move comes just weeks after a U.S. judge ruled that Apple could not impose commissions on external purchases made by users outside of iOS apps, a partial legal win for Epic Games. The developer had resubmitted Fortnite to Apple’s App Store in the U.S. following this ruling, but it appears Apple rejected the submission, prompting the current blockade.

This is not the first time Fortnite has been caught in the crosshairs of Apple’s platform policies. The game was originally removed from the App Store in 2020 after Epic introduced a direct payment option to bypass Apple’s 30% commission on in-app purchases—triggering a years-long legal dispute that has yet to fully resolve.

Although the European Union’s Digital Markets Act enabled Epic to reintroduce Fortnite through its own store on iOS devices last year, Apple has now reportedly blocked that route as well, cutting off access in the EU despite previous regulatory pressure on tech gatekeepers to open their ecosystems.

Neither Apple nor Epic Games provided a detailed explanation behind this latest block. Apple has not yet responded to media inquiries, while Epic has maintained that it is being unfairly restricted.

The timing of this development is particularly notable, as it follows a recent legal victory for Epic in its antitrust case against Apple. Despite that win, Apple’s actions suggest continued resistance to accommodating Epic’s distribution methods outside the traditional App Store model.

As of now, Fortnite remains offline for all iOS users worldwide, with no clear timeline for when—or if—access will be restored.