Epic Games resubmitted the game to the U.S. App Store this past Friday, and if all goes well, we could be seeing Fortnite back on iOS devices after nearly four years in exile.
$1 Billion and 120+ Hours Later, Still No Fortnite On iPhone or iPad
But here’s the thing: Apple didn’t even review the submission. For more than five days – 120 hours to be exact – Epic heard absolutely nothing. Nada. Zilch. So what did they do?
Fortnite leaker, Shiina posted on X that Epic pulled that submission and tossed in a new one, this time with a fresh weekly content update included. Because Fortnite isn’t just a game, it’s a constantly evolving digital universe. And Epic has to push updates across all platforms simultaneously to keep everyone in sync.
Now if you’re wondering why this is such a big deal, let’s rewind a bit. Back in 2020, Epic did something pretty bold (and very on-brand). They snuck in a web-based payment system to get around Apple’s 30% cut of in-app purchases. Apple, of course, was not thrilled and responded by banning Fortnite from the App Store and terminating Epic’s developer account. That little showdown exploded into a full-blown legal war: Epic Games vs. Apple.
Related: $1B Later: Where’s Fortnite on the App Store?
The lawsuit wrapped up with a mixed ruling. Apple didn’t have to reinstate Epic’s developer account, but they were ordered to allow developers to link to external payment options. That ruling is currently under appeal, but in the meantime, Apple has to play along.
So, how’s Epic getting around the developer ban? Enter: Epic Games Sweden. Yep, Epic submitted Fortnite under a European subsidiary that was originally set up to run the Epic Games Store marketplace in the EU. Technically a loophole, and whether Apple accepts this move remains to be seen.
Tim Sweeney, Epic’s CEO, confirmed that they had some “conversations” with Apple about all this, but there’s no official green light from Cupertino. He even said he’d be “very surprised” if Apple decided to block the game again, especially given the current legal optics.
So here we are. Fortnite’s waiting in the App Store lobby, and Apple holds the keys. Will they open the door or hit the red buzzer again? Guess we’ll find out soon. But one thing’s for sure, this saga is far from over.
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