App Store prohibits Fortnite availability in U.S. and EU markets, according to Epic Games declaration.
Rewritten Article:
Epic Games announced on Friday that Apple has banned "Fortnite" from its app store worldwide, impacting the game's availability on iOS devices.
That means Fortnite is offline on iPhones everywhere until Apple reverses its decision, Epic Games said.
The current spat between the two tech giants stems from Epic Games introducing an alternative payment system in its game, which directly contravenes Apple's policies. This resulted in Fortnite's removal from the App Store in 2020, kicking off a legal battle between the two companies.
Recently, Epic Games resubmitted Fortnite to Apple with an aim to comply with a court ruling requiring Apple to allow third-party payment options. However, Apple blocked this submission, citing concerns about the inclusion of the U.S. storefront within the app update. This blockage prevents Fortnite from being released in the U.S. App Store and on the Epic Games Store for iOS in the EU.
Interestingly, due to the EU's Digital Markets Act, Fortnite was available in the EU via an alternative store. But as a ripple effect of Apple's actions, it's now unavailable globally on iOS devices, even in the EU.
In essence, Fortnite's global disappearance from iOS devices is due to Apple's blockage preventing Epic Games from distributing the game through the App Store in the U.S. and through alternative means in the EU. This unwanted turn of events means Fortnite fans worldwide can't access the game on their iPhones until Apple unblocks it.
- The ongoing dispute between Epic Games and Apple has resulted in Fortnite's absence from iOS devices' app libraries, as the inclusion of an alternative payment system in the game contradicts Apple's policies.
- Despite the European Union's Digital Markets Act allowing Fortnite to be available on alternative stores, its global withdrawal from iOS devices is due to Apple blocking the game's release in the U.S. App Store and preventing distribution through other means in the EU, affecting its accessibility on smartphones and smartphones users' enjoyment of gaming, technology, social-media, and entertainment.
