Epic Games Pushes for Fortnite's App Store Return
Epic Games has escalated its legal fight against Apple, seeking a court order to force the tech giant to reinstate Fortnite on the App Store. This follows a recent ruling where Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found Apple in "willful violation" of an injunction related to anti-competitive pricing.
The core issue revolves around Apple's App Store policies, specifically the commissions charged for in-app purchases. Epic Games achieved a significant victory last month with the court ruling, which seemed to open the door for Fortnite's return and broader changes to in-app payment options for developers.
Apple Appeals Ruling, Fortnite Remains Blocked
Despite the ruling, Apple has stated its intention to appeal. Epic Games claims Apple is blocking Fortnite from both the U.S. App Store and the Epic Games Store in Europe. Epic stated that "Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it."
Apple disputes this claim, particularly regarding the European block. Apple maintains it requested Epic Sweden to resubmit an app update excluding the U.S. App Store to avoid impacting other regions. Apple's legal representative explained in a letter that Apple will not reinstate Fortnite until the Ninth Circuit rules on its pending request for a partial stay of the injunction.
Epic Accuses Apple of Anti-Competitive Practices
In its filing, Epic Games argues Apple is preventing it from benefiting from the pro-competitive rules established by the court. Epic accuses Apple of "punishing" them by blocking market access and discouraging other developers from challenging Apple's practices.
The ongoing legal battle between Epic Games and Apple continues to highlight the tensions surrounding app store policies and control over in-app purchases. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the future of mobile gaming and app development.
