In an unexpected twist in the ongoing legal saga, Epic Games’ hit battle royale, Fortnite, is currently unavailable on Apple iPhones in the European Union and the United States. Players looking to jump into their favorite game on iOS devices will have to wait until Apple unblocks it.
Fortnite, launched in 2017 and backed by China's Tencent, has captured the hearts of millions with its dynamic last-player-standing format. Now, gamers across the EU and U.S. are left in suspense as Fortnite remains off the iPhone operating system, sparking buzz and frustration 🎮🔥.
While Epic Games did not specify why Fortnite was blocked, Apple mentioned that it requested Epic Sweden to resubmit the app update without including the U.S. storefront—an effort to avoid disrupting access in other regions. According to an Apple spokesperson, "We did not take any action to remove the live version of Fortnite from alternative distribution marketplaces."
The situation takes a dramatic turn as Epic Games has recently pushed back legally. Late on Friday, Epic asked a U.S. judge in California to hold Apple in contempt for blocking Fortnite's return to the App Store in the U.S. This move follows a long-running dispute that began in 2020 over Apple's commission practices on in-app payments, a topic that has kept both sides in the public eye.
Epic’s filing criticizes Apple's actions as "blatant retaliation" for challenging what Epic describes as anticompetitive behavior. With legal battles intensifying and recent court wins bolstering Epic's case, the future of Fortnite on iOS remains uncertain. Fans and industry watchers alike are on the edge of their seats, waiting to see how this digital showdown unfolds.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
