Fortnite fans on iPhones—especially in the U.S. and Europe—might be wondering: Where’s the game?! According to Epic Games, Apple is throwing serious shade and keeping Fortnite off the App Store in both regions. And yep, things are getting spicy… again.
Wait, Didn’t Epic Already Win Against Apple?
Sort of. Back in 2021, Epic Games (the folks behind Fortnite) and Apple went to court in a high-profile legal battle over how apps make money on iPhones. Fast forward to 2024, and Epic finally scored a major win: Apple now has to let app developers use their own payment systems in the U.S. App Store. That means no more mandatory 30% Apple tax every time you buy V-Bucks.
So, Fortnite’s Coming Back to iPhones, Right?
That was the plan. Epic tried to bring Fortnite back to the U.S. App Store on May 9, 2025. But things didn’t go as smoothly as they hoped. Apple didn’t approve the app for over a week, which is a problem for Fortnite since it updates every single week with new content. Epic pulled the submission to avoid falling behind and quickly sent in a fresh update on May 14.
And Then Apple Said… Nope.
According to Epic CEO Tim Sweeney and Fortnite’s official account on X (formerly Twitter), Apple didn’t just reject the updated app—it blocked it entirely. Even worse, Epic claims Apple has now locked them out of releasing Fortnite in the European Union too.
“Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it,” Fortnite posted.
Apple Claps Back
Not so fast, says Apple. The tech giant responded, saying they didn’t block Fortnite everywhere—just asked Epic to remove the U.S. App Store from the app submission to avoid messing things up for players in other regions. A spokesperson said:
“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 EU.”
What Does This Mean for You?
- If you’re in the U.S. or EU, Fortnite is still not available for iPhone users via the official App Store.
- Epic says Apple is blocking them.
- Apple says Epic is being dramatic and just needs to tweak the submission.
- Either way, players lose out—for now.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just a Fortnite problem. It’s a glimpse into the ongoing battle over who controls what we download, how we pay for apps, and how fair (or not) the big app stores really are. The outcome could affect everything from your favorite mobile games to how you subscribe to streaming services or buy books on your phone.
So stay tuned—and maybe keep that Android device handy if you’re really craving some Victory Royales.
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. Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it.
— Fortnite (@Fortnite) May 16, 2025
Why You Still Can’t Download Fortnite on iPhone: Epic Games vs. Apple Just Got Messy Again
