Apple says it won’t yet ‘take action’ on Fortnite return to the App Store

Last week, Epic Games resubmitted Fortnite to the App Store in the United States. This followed a court ruling that stated Apple wasn’t allowed to charge a 27% commission on payments conducted through external payment services on the U.S. App Store.

However, when it submitted the new version of Fortnite for app review, Epic Games didn’t hear back for quite some time.

Tonight, Epic Games shared a letter that it says it received yesterday from Apple. This follows this mornings announcement that Apple had ‘blocked’ the launch of the new Fortnite update globally, which wasn’t necessarily the case. Instead, Apple simply didn’t want to touch the US version of Fortnite.

Epic Games had bundled the two versions together, and Apple had then suggested that Epic Games submit the US and EU versions separately.

In the letter shared, Apple stated the following:

As you are well aware, Apple has previously denied requests to reinstate the Epic Games developer
account, and we have informed you that Apple will not revisit that decision until after the U.S. litigation between the parties concludes. In our view, the same reasoning extends to returning Fortnite to the U.S. storefront of the App Store regardless of which Epic-related entity submits the app. If Epic believes that there is some factual or legal development that warrants further consideration of this position, please let us know in writing. In the meantime, Apple has determined not to take action on the Fortnite app submission until after the Ninth Circuit rules on our pending request for a partial stay of the new injunction.

You can read the letter in full here. In short, Apple doesn’t want to take action until everything is fully settled involving the dispute.

As a result of this, Epic Games has asked the courts to force Apple to allow Fortnite to relaunch on the U.S. App Store under the new rules.

My favorite Apple accessory recommendations:

Follow Michael: X/Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram

Keep track of your essentials with the Apple AirTag 4 Pack, the ultimate tracking solution for your belongings. With over 5,972 ratings and a stellar 4.7-star average, this product has quickly become a customer favorite. Over 10,000 units were purchased in the past month, solidifying its status as a highly rated Amazon Choice product.

For just $79.98, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your items are always within reach. Order now for only $79.98 at Amazon!

Help Power Techcratic’s Future – Scan To Support

If Techcratic’s content and insights have helped you, consider giving back by supporting the platform with crypto. Every contribution makes a difference, whether it’s for high-quality content, server maintenance, or future updates. Techcratic is constantly evolving, and your support helps drive that progress.

As a solo operator who wears all the hats, creating content, managing the tech, and running the site, your support allows me to stay focused on delivering valuable resources. Your support keeps everything running smoothly and enables me to continue creating the content you love. I’m deeply grateful for your support, it truly means the world to me! Thank you!