Fortnite Officially Banned from iPhone — Epic Games vs

After years of legal jabs and regulatory changes, Fortnite fans on iPhone and iPad are once again sidelined. Apple has officially blocked Fortnite’s latest submission-not only on its own App Store in the US, but also on third-party app stores allowed under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The result? Fortnite is now completely offline for iOS players worldwide, reigniting the heated standoff between Epic Games and Apple with new implications for gamers, developers, and the digital marketplace itself.

Fortnite iOS Ban – Apple Blocks Epic’s Return Despite EU Digital Markets Act

Fortnite is offline for all iPhone and iPad users globally after Apple blocks the title on both US and EU app stores
Epic Games’ efforts to relaunch Fortnite on iOS via third-party stores are thwarted despite the EU’s new DMA rules
The standoff highlights major questions about platform control, developer freedom, and how laws like DMA will be enforced
Millions of iOS Fortnite players must turn to other platforms until Apple lifts the ban

Feature	Specification
Publisher	Epic Games
Release Date	N/A (blocked as of May 2025)
Genres	Battle Royale, Shooter
Platforms	iOS (banned), Android, PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, Mac

The saga began in August 2020 when Epic Games added direct payment options to Fortnite, dodging Apple’s mandatory 30% cut on in-app purchases. Apple swiftly pulled Fortnite from the App Store, sparking a legal war over marketplace fairness, developer rights, and the future of mobile gaming. Epic’s high-profile lawsuit partially succeeded in 2021: US courts ruled Apple can’t ban developers from pointing users to alternative payment systems-but Fortnite itself stayed off iOS.

Fortnite gameplay screenshot showing a battle royale match — Fortnite’s unique blend of creativity and action helped define the mobile battle royale genre—making its iOS absence even more striking.

Hopes rose again in 2023 and 2024 as the EU’s Digital Markets Act forced Apple to open up iOS to alternative app stores, at least in Europe. Epic quickly moved to relaunch Fortnite on iOS via its own Epic Games Store and the AltStore PAL. For a brief moment, EU-based iPhone users glimpsed a possible return to the island.

Fortnite characters preparing for action in a vibrant environment — Fortnite’s colorful cast remains available on other platforms, but iOS gamers are left out in the cold for now.

But on May 16, 2025, Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney announced the latest setback: “Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission so we cannot release to the US App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union. Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it.”

In-game action showing Fortnite’s building and combat mechanics — Building, battling, and exploring—the core Fortnite loop is still thriving elsewhere, but iOS is no longer on the map.

For iOS gamers, the impact is immediate and painful. Fortnite can’t be downloaded, updated, or even played on any iPhone or iPad, no matter where you live. Those hoping for a workaround via EU alternative stores are also out of luck—Apple’s tight grip on app distribution remains unbroken, despite the DMA’s intent.

Why does this matter beyond Fortnite? The dispute spotlights the power major platforms have over the games (and apps) you love. For developers, it’s a warning that “open platforms” can vanish with a single corporate policy change, even in the face of new regulations. Regulators across Europe and beyond are watching closely, ready to challenge Apple if it’s found skirting the DMA.

Fortnite’s diverse environments on display in a gameplay screenshot — Will Fortnite’s ban on iOS become a catalyst for wider change in the mobile app ecosystem?

As things stand, iOS Fortnite fans have no recourse but to switch platforms—or wait for another legal or regulatory twist. The clash between Epic and Apple shows no sign of cooling off, and the future of third-party app stores on iOS hangs in the balance. Will this bold move by Apple trigger more scrutiny, actual enforcement of the DMA, or even a new wave of lawsuits? For now, the battle is paused—but far from over.

TL;DR: Fortnite has been officially blocked from all iOS devices globally after Apple rejected Epic Games’ latest submission on both US and EU stores. The battle royale phenomenon remains available on all other platforms, but Apple’s hardline stance means iPhone and iPad players are out of the action for the foreseeable future.

Source: Epic Games via GamesPress