Epic Games has prevented Apple from launching popular video games on the App Store in both the US and Europe, resulting in the unavailability of Fortnite on iPhones and iPads globally.
“Since Apple has blocked Fortnite submissions, it cannot be launched in US app stores or in the Epic Games store within the European Union,” the Fortnite X account tweeted early Friday. They assert that this action by Apple will impact iOS access worldwide.
“Unfortunately, Fortnite on iOS will remain offline across the globe until Apple lifts the block,” stated Fortnite.
In a statement to Apscoist Press, Apple stated it specifically requested Epic Sweden to submit an app update excluding US stores in the App Store to avoid affecting Fortnite in other regions. However, they mentioned that “no action was taken to remove the live version of Fortnite from the alternative secondary market.”
Fortnite’s absence from the iPhone App Store marks the latest chapter in a protracted conflict between Apple and Epic. In 2020, game developers took legal action against Apple in the U.S., accusing the tech giant of abusing its market power against game developers.
Following a month-long trial in 2021, District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers dismissed most of Epic’s claims but ruled that Apple had previously monopolized in-app payments and mandated that they allow links to alternative payment options in the U.S.
After exhausting appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court last year, Apple permitted links to alternative payment methods while simultaneously introducing a new system that imposes a 27% fee on in-app transactions conducted outside its proprietary system.
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Epic was criticized for alleging that Apple was manipulating the legal system, prompting another round of court proceedings that stretched nearly a year before Gonzalez Rogers delivered a scathing ruling last month.
This decisive victory set the stage for Epic’s long-anticipated return to the US iPhone App Store ahead of Apple’s recent actions.
Meanwhile, Fortnite’s rollout in the EU was intended to transition to an alternative store for iPhone users, now recognized as the Epic Games Store. Apple facilitated this change last year under increasing regulatory scrutiny.
Source: www.theguardian.com
