Apple Blocks Fortnite’s Return to App Store in Europe; Downloads Fail in the EU

Apple has blocked Fortnite’s return to the iOS Epic Games Store in the European Union, causing the game to be unavailable on iPhones and iPads. Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, announced that Apple rejected their submission, leading to the removal of the game from the App Store. This decision affects users in the EU, where Fortnite was previously available for download through the Epic Games Store. The company stated that Apple’s blockage of the submission has resulted in Fortnite being offline worldwide on iOS devices. It is unclear whether Apple directly blocked the game’s availability through alternative marketplaces in the EU or if Epic chose to make it unavailable themselves. Fortnite had made a comeback to iOS in the EU through third-party stores, as Apple was required by the Digital Markets Act to allow alternative app stores on their platform. Epic had resubmitted Fortnite to the US App Store following a recent ruling in their lawsuit against Apple, but Apple’s restrictions on external payment systems still pose challenges. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has criticized Apple’s app review process, claiming that it has been ‘weaponized by senior management’. As the situation continues to unfold, Fortnite fans are left without access to the game on iOS devices in the EU, raising concerns about the ongoing dispute between Epic Games and Apple.