Epic Games vs. Apple: Judge Asked to Reinstate Fortnite

Epic Games Intensifies Pressure on Apple Regarding Fortnite App Store Access

Epic Games is increasing its pressure on Apple to permit the inclusion of its popular game, Fortnite, within the App Store. A recent court submission requests Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to mandate Apple’s acceptance of “any compliant version of Fortnite” onto the American App Store.

Years-Long Legal Dispute

A protracted legal conflict has been ongoing between Epic and Apple, centering on Apple’s App Store policies, specifically the fees levied on in-app transactions.

Recent Ruling Favored Epic

Last month, Epic Games achieved a significant legal win when Judge Gonzalez Rogers determined that Apple had deliberately violated an injunction concerning anti-competitive pricing practices. This decision appeared to clear a path for Fortnite’s potential return to the App Store and, more broadly, to enable developers to implement alternative payment systems within their applications.

Apple's Appeal and Fortnite's Status

However, Apple has indicated its intention to appeal the ruling. Epic stated on Friday that Apple is currently preventing Fortnite from being available on the U.S. App Store and hindering its release on the Epic Games store within Europe. The company reported that “Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it.”

Dispute Over Blocking Fortnite

Apple contested this assertion, particularly the claim that it was blocking Fortnite outside of the United States. The company clarified that it requested Epic Sweden to “resubmit the app update without including the U.S. storefront of the App Store” to avoid affecting Fortnite’s availability in other regions.

Reason for U.S. Block

Epic publicized a letter from Mark A. Perry, legal counsel for Apple, informing Epic’s legal team that “Apple has determined not to take action on the Fortnite app submission until after the Ninth Circuit rules on our pending request for a partial stay of the new injunction.”

Epic's Argument Against Apple

In its court filing, Epic contends that Apple is obstructing its “ability to take advantage of the pro-competitive rules it helped usher in” and is “punishing” Epic “by shutting it out of the very market it has fought so hard to open — while sending a clear message to other developers not to challenge Apple’s practices.”

Key takeaway: The dispute revolves around Apple’s response to a ruling that found its App Store policies anti-competitive.

Further details: Epic argues Apple is deliberately hindering its ability to benefit from the recent court decision.