“Fortnite” maker Epic Video games stated Friday that Apple has blocked its newest try and convey again the favored online game within the US model of its App Retailer.
The Fortnite app can be unavailable Apple gadgets within the European Union, regardless of beforehand being downloadable there via the Epic Video games retailer. Epic pinned the obtain failures in Europe on Apple as nicely.
“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,” Epic Video games stated in a publish on Fortnite’s X account. “Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it.”
Representatives for Apple and Epic Video games didn’t instantly return requests for remark.
Fortnite has initially blocked from the US App Retailer in 2020, kicking off the continuing years-long authorized feud between Apple and Epic Video games, which accused the iPhone maker of antitrust violations. The online game was made out there on Apple gadgets in Europe final yr as a result of EU’s Digital Markets Act, which required Apple to permit downloads in third-party app shops.
Epic Video games and its CEO Tim Sweeney resubmitted the online game for reinstatement final week.
The resubmission got here after US District Decide Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers’s explosive ruling final month that Apple had violated a 2021 injunction order to open up its App Retailer.
In her ruling, Rogers stated CEO Tim Cook dinner “chose poorly” by directing workers to defy the earlier injunction and that vice chairman of finance Alex Roman had “outright lied” beneath oath – and referred the corporate for potential legal prices.
Rogers additionally slapped Apple with contemporary orders to cease charging a 27% price on rivals like Epic who direct clients to make purchases outdoors the App Retailer and finish restrictions on the place builders can place hyperlinks that lead clients away from the App Retailer.
Apple has requested a federal appeals courtroom in California to pause Rogers’ ruling, claiming it might price the corporate “billions” of {dollars} yearly if left in place.
In the meantime, Epic Video games’ Sweeney had hinted at some difficulties with the Fortnite submission earlier this week, noting that his firm had pulled its earlier submission and submitted an up to date model on account of a pending software program replace.
“Apple’s App Review team should be free to review all submitted apps promptly and accept or reject according to the plain language of their guidelines,” Sweeney stated in an X publish on Thursday. “App Review shouldn’t be weaponized by senior management as a tool to delay or obstruct competition, due process, or free speech.”
