Article Summary
Fortnite, the popular online game owned by Epic Games, has been blocked by Apple on iPhone devices in the United States and European Union. This move comes after Fortnite submitted an update to the App Store for review, which Apple asked to be resubmitted without the U.S. storefront of the App Store. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has criticized Apple’s review process, stating that it should not be used to delay or obstruct competition or free speech. Epic Games sued Apple in 2020, alleging that Apple had built an illegal monopoly around its App Store, and in January 2024, the Supreme Court rejected Apple’s appeal in the antitrust case. Apple was hit with another antitrust lawsuit from the Justice Department in March 2024, accusing the company of stifling competition.
What This Means for You
- If you’re a Fortnite player on iPhone, you won’t be able to play the game until Apple unblocks it.
- Apple’s app review process has been criticized for potentially being used as a tool to delay or obstruct competition and free speech.
- Epic Games alleges that Apple has built an illegal monopoly around its App Store, and the Supreme Court has rejected Apple’s appeal in an antitrust case.
- The Justice Department has accused Apple of stifling competition in a separate antitrust lawsuit.
- It’s important to be aware of the antitrust lawsuits and accusations surrounding Apple and its App Store, as they could impact the future of app distribution and competition in the industry.
Original Post
Apple has blocked access to the online game Fortnite on iPhone devices in the United States and the European Union, according to the video game maker.
“Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission so we cannot release to the U.S. App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union,” the Fortnite X account said early Friday morning.
Reached for comment, an Apple 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.”
Fortnite, which is owned by Epic Games, said that the game will be offline worldwide on iOS until Apple unblocks it.
The game company said it submitted Fortnite to Apple for review last week in order to launch the program on the App Store in the U.S, according to an X post.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney on Thursday commented on Apple’s review process, saying in a post on social media the tech giant should “be free to review all submitted apps promptly and accept or reject according to the plain language of their guidelines.”
Added Sweeney, “App Review shouldn’t be weaponized by senior management as a tool to delay or obstruct competition, due process, or free speech.”
Epic Games sued
Key Terms
- Fortnite
- Apple
- App Store
- Epic Games
- Antitrust
- Monopoly
- App Distribution
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