Fortnite Removed from App Store: Judge Denies Epic's Request

The California judge presiding over the legal dispute between Epic Games and Apple has rejected Epic’s motion to compel Apple to re-enable Fortnite on the App Store. However, the judge did rule that Apple is prohibited from taking punitive measures against the Epic Games developer accounts that provide Unreal Engine developers with access to Apple’s platforms.

This court ruling reinforces a previous declaration made in late August during a hearing where Epic Games’ legal team requested a temporary restraining order. This request followed Apple’s notification to Fortnite’s creator that it would remove the game from the App Store and close all associated company accounts.

The judge stated that “preliminary injunctive relief represents an exceptional remedy that is seldom authorized,” and clarified that the request from Epic Games was granted in part and denied in part, emphasizing that “Epic Games has the responsibility of demonstrating the need for such extraordinary relief.”

According to the court documents:

This means Fortnite will remain unavailable on the App Store until the trial commences; recent court filings indicate the trial is scheduled for May 3, 2021.

Each company focused on highlighting their success within the mixed ruling while downplaying the setbacks.

“Epic Games appreciates that Apple will be prevented from taking action against Unreal Engine and our developer community as the legal proceedings continue. We will continue to support iOS and Mac development under the court’s safeguards, and we will vigorously pursue all options to resolve Apple’s anti-competitive practices,” stated an Epic Games representative.

“Our users expect the App Store to be a secure and reliable environment where all developers adhere to a consistent standard of conduct,” an Apple spokesperson communicated to TechCrunch via email. “We are pleased the court acknowledged that Epic’s actions were detrimental to its own user base and that any issues experienced stemmed from their own violation of the existing agreement. For twelve years, the App Store has fostered significant economic growth, providing groundbreaking opportunities for developers of all sizes. We anticipate presenting this history of innovation and progress to the court next year.”