Apple Completely Blocked Fornite’s Return to the iOS App Store

Apple has one again blocked the return of Fortnite to the iOS App Store—also impacting the game’s availability in Europe. The game could be installed on iOS devices through the Epic Games Store on European iOS devices, but no longer.

This move marks the latest escalation in an ongoing legal and regulatory battle between Apple and Epic Games, developer of Fortnite. Fortnite was originally banned from the App Store in 2020 after Epic Games included a direct payment system to bypass Apple’s 30% commission fee—which the industry has dubbed the Apple Tax. Regulatory pressure from the European Union’s Digital Markets Act forced Apple to allow third-party app stores, enabling Fortnite’s return via the Epic Games Store in 2024 for European iPhones and iPads.

However, after Epic Games attempted to resubmit Fortnite to the U.S. App Store in May 2025, Apple summarily rejected the submission. That move continues a streak of what U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has characterized as ‘malicious compliance’ on Apple’s part. The official Fortnite account on X/Twitter announced that Fortnite was no longer available anywhere thanks to Apple’s rejection.

“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,” the statement reads.

Apple has clarified that it did not block Fortnite in the European Union specifically, but rather requested that Epic resubmit the app update without tying it to the U.S. App Store submission. Apple says Epic’s decision to link the two led to the block, but Epic maintains that this is yet more ‘malicious compliance’ on Apple’s behalf.

The latest standoff comes amid a recent court ruling that would force Apple to allow external payment options for developers in the United States. Despite the legal victory for Epic, the company’s attempt to return Fortnite to the App Store was met with silence and delays before the ultimate rejection.

For now, Fortnite remains inaccessible on iOS devices across the globe. Epic Games has signaled that the game will stay offline until Apple reverses its decision. Both companies have yet to reach a resolution—so fans must wait while Apple appeals the recent court ruling in an attempt to overturn allowing third-party payment systems.

Appfigures estimates that Apple earned $27 billion globally from iOS App Store commissions in 2024. In the United States alone, that figure is $10 billion—which highlights why Apple wants desperately to preserve that revenue stream.