Title: Fortnite vs. Apple Battle Persists: App Store Denial Fuels New Dispute

The protracted legal conflict between Epic Games and Apple has taken another significant twist. In recent updates, Epic Games has indicated that Apple has once more rejected Fortnite’s return to the App Store.

In a message on X (formerly Twitter), the official Fortnite account disclosed that Apple dismissed its latest application, blocking the game’s launch on both the U.S. App Store and the Epic Games Store for iOS within the European Union.

“Apple has declined our Fortnite submission, preventing us from releasing on the US App Store or on the Epic Games Store for iOS in the EU,” the message disclosed. “Sadly, Fortnite on iOS will remain offline globally until Apple permits its return.”

Mashable has contacted Apple for a statement and will provide updates should new information arise.

Just a week prior, Epic Games had announced the thrilling news of officially resubmitting Fortnite to the App Store, igniting hopes among fans for the game’s long-anticipated comeback to iOS. However, following this latest denial, Fortnite is currently unavailable to iOS users around the world.

Previously, players in the EU were still able to play Fortnite on iOS, but that option has now been revoked. Even alternative app stores in the EU no longer list the game, though the reasons behind this remain unclear. It’s possible that Epic submitted the game to the U.S. App Store using a European developer account, resulting in wider ramifications due to the rejection. Furthermore, it may also be the case that Epic chose to withdraw the app from third-party platforms voluntarily.

In the U.S., Fortnite has been missing from Apple devices since 2020 when the legal dispute between Apple and Epic Games first started. Central to the conflict is Apple’s 30% commission on in-app purchases, a policy that Epic has openly contested. This challenge led to a prominent antitrust lawsuit, which recently resulted in Apple being found in contempt of court and ordered to cease collecting fees from off-app purchases.

While fans were optimistic that Fortnite’s return to iOS was on the horizon, this newest setback signifies that the wait endures. For the time being, players keen on engaging with characters like Darth Vader in-game will have to turn to non-Apple platforms.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney commented on the situation through X, accusing Apple of “weaponizing” the app review process and viewing the issue as a matter of free speech.

As the legal and regulatory skirmishes persist, one thing remains evident: the Fortnite vs. Apple showdown is far from concluded.