In a surprising turn of events, Apple has once again blocked access to Fortnite—one of the world’s most popular video games—from its iPhones in the United States and through Epic Games’ own store in the European Union. The announcement came on Friday from Epic Games, the game’s developer, who stated that players will not be able to access Fortnite through Apple’s iOS platform or App Store until Apple lifts the restriction.
Epic Games did not explain why Apple imposed the new ban, and Apple has yet to release a statement on the matter. The move marks another dramatic episode in the ongoing conflict between the tech giant and the gaming company.
Epic Games, backed by Chinese tech giant Tencent, has been a dominant force in the global gaming industry since launching Fortnite in 2017. Its “battle royale” format became a cultural phenomenon, attracting millions of players worldwide. However, behind the game’s success is a years-long legal struggle that continues to disrupt player access and business operations.
The clash began in 2020 when Epic filed a lawsuit accusing Apple of monopolistic practices, particularly the 30% commission fee Apple charges on all in-app purchases made through its App Store. In response, Apple removed Fortnite from its platform entirely.
Thanks to mounting pressure from European regulators, Apple allowed Fortnite back on its platform last year. This was in response to the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which aims to curb the dominance of Big Tech companies and promote fairer competition. Apple even gave the green light for Epic’s own games marketplace to operate on iPhones and iPads in Europe.
The conflict seemed to ease momentarily, especially after Epic won a recent court case against Apple earlier this month. Yet, this latest action from Apple suggests the battle is far from over.
For gamers and developers, this dispute is more than just corporate drama—it highlights critical questions about digital rights, monopolies, and the future of app distribution. For now, millions of Fortnite fans are left in limbo, with no official word on when—or if—the game will return to Apple’s ecosystem.
As the legal and regulatory saga continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the clash between Apple and Epic Games is setting new precedents in how digital marketplaces are governed—and it’s far from over.
