The ongoing dispute between Epic Games and Apple over Fortnite's availability on iOS devices has escalated, with Epic accusing Apple of obstructing its efforts to relaunch the game on the U.S. App Store. This development follows a significant ruling by a U.S. Federal District Court in California on April 30, which found Apple in violation of a court order from the Epic Games v. Apple case. The order mandated Apple to allow developers to provide alternative purchasing options outside their apps, a directive Apple has allegedly failed to comply with.

Epic's CEO, Tim Sweeney, had announced earlier this month that Fortnite would soon return to the U.S. iOS App Store following the court's decision. However, Epic now reports that Apple has blocked their latest Fortnite submission, preventing its release not only in the U.S. but also on the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union. As a result, Fortnite remains unavailable worldwide on iOS devices until Apple lifts the block.

Epic's Tim Sweeney is determined to defeat Apple and Google, however long it takes. Photo by SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg.

Sweeney's battle against Apple and Google's app store policies is well-documented. He has invested billions in challenging the standard 30% store fees, aiming to distribute Fortnite through the Epic Games Store without the intermediary fees. This conflict led to Fortnite's removal from iOS in 2020. Sweeney has publicly stated his willingness to continue this fight for decades, viewing it as a crucial investment in Epic and Fortnite's future.

Following the court's ruling, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers referred Apple and one of its executives, Alex Roman, to federal prosecutors for a potential criminal contempt investigation. The judge criticized Apple's compliance efforts as misleading and dishonest. Apple, in response, expressed disagreement with the decision but committed to complying while also appealing the ruling.

In a direct appeal to Apple CEO Tim Cook, Sweeney tweeted, "Hi Tim. How about if you let our mutual customers access Fortnite? Just a thought." This plea underscores the urgency and frustration Epic feels as it continues to navigate this high-stakes legal and corporate battle.