Epic Games Says Apple Blocks Fortnite Access in US and EU
Fortnite is currently inaccessible for iOS users worldwide as a fresh standoff erupts between Epic Games and Apple. The developer claims that Apple has effectively blocked its latest app submissions, preventing the game from being distributed in both the United States and the European Union.
The conflict escalated following a legal ruling that compelled Apple to permit external payment methods for U.S. developers. Seeking to capitalize on this mandate, Epic Games attempted to resubmit Fortnite to the U.S. App Store on May 9, 2025.
Submission Hurdles and Global Outage
The process hit a standstill when Apple failed to process the initial submission for an entire week. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney noted that the request was eventually withdrawn because the studio requires all platforms to sync simultaneously for its weekly content updates. A revised version was subsequently submitted for review on Wednesday, May 14.
However, the company announced on Friday that the submission was rejected. According to a statement from the official Fortnite X account, the impact is global:
- The latest U.S. submission remains blocked by Apple.
- The restriction has reportedly hindered Epic Games’ ability to release the app within the European Union.
- Fortnite on iOS is currently offline across all regions until the situation is resolved.
Apple’s Response
Apple has challenged the narrative presented by the game developer. In a statement provided following the initial reports, an Apple spokesperson clarified the company’s stance regarding the submission process:
“We asked that Epic Sweden resubmit the app update without including the U.S. storefront of the App Store so as not to impact Fortnite in other geographies. We did not take any action to remove the live version of Fortnite from alternative distribution marketplaces in the EC.”
The dispute underscores the ongoing tension between the two tech giants as they navigate the evolving regulatory landscape of mobile app distribution.