In a statement Friday morning, Epic Games claimed that Apple had rejected the newest submission of Fortnite in the US. The company has gone further still, blocking the game’s release in the entire European Union. This monumental ruling has largely disappointed gamers and reignited debate over Apple’s monopoly on app distribution.
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In a post made on X, Epic Games expressed disappointment over Apple’s actions, stating, “Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it.” Apple’s move makes a big statement to its user base. That group runs into the tens of millions including all the players who were having fun with Fortnite on their iOS devices.
The rejection of Fortnite’s submission affects Fortnite players not only in the U.S., but those in the entire European Union. This is particularly problematic given potential implications of restrictions in the rapidly growing international marketplace for mobile games. As both companies continue to sort this out, it is anybody’s guess how much longer Fortnite will be unavailable on these platforms.
Apple’s decision is made against the backdrop of clamoring for reform of app store regulations and the rules that control digital marketplaces as a whole. In many ways, Epic games finds itself in a pickle. All while trying to carve out its place in an incredibly competitive space, and living fully within the very strict perimeters provided by Apple.
