After being absent from Apple’s App Store in the U.S. for almost five years, Fortnite was due for a comeback after Epic Games won its legal case. The game was rejected over three months after it was filed for review on May 9, 2025, which has upset and puzzled people working in the industry and players alike.
A Long-Awaited Return Hits a New Roadblock
It was in 2020 that Epic Games removed Fortnite from Apple’s system because Epic objected to some of Apple’s in-app store policies. As a result, a famous lawsuit unfolded and was settled by a court ruling earlier this year. Apple was found to have still broken the injunction, so the judge made it possible for Fortnite to be restored to devices using iOS.
Seconds later, the Fortnite developer confirmed that Fortnite would be available on iPhones and iPads shortly. It was on May 9 that the game was sent to Apple for review. Since Apple states that it usually reviews apps within 24 hours, we expected the title to be made available again in the App Store fairly quickly.
No Clarity from Apple on the Delay
People are now wondering what Apple has planned because the release hasn’t happened on time. It is likely that an issue with the technical process is involved, though many people suspect that the review is being delayed due to ongoing issues between Apple and Epic Games.
According to TheGamer, people in the community worry about the lack of openness. People in different countries can find Fortnite on iOS in other stores, so the problems might be unrelated to technology. Instead, people are suspecting that Apple may be acting slowly on purpose to protest against the criticisms and lawsuits from Epic.
Epic Games has remained relatively quiet on the exact cause of the delay, though they reaffirmed their intent to bring Fortnite back to iOS in a tweet on May 7. Since then, there has been no official update from either side, deepening the mystery.
Legal and Market Tensions Still Simmering
The relationship between Apple and Epic Games has become one of the most noticeable legal cases in the tech world. One focus of the original dispute was that Apple took a 30% cut from in-app purchases and required developers to use its payment system.
Even though Epic did not succeed at everything, the outcome of the lawsuit was a partial success. Apple was made to allow developers to offer users alternative ways to make payments. But Apple’s reluctance to accept these updates, such as seeking to postpone requirements, keeps progress moving slowly.
The reason behind the delay in approving Fortnite may add to the continuous challenges it has faced. Apple has publicly commented on controlling its app ecosystem before, though it has yet to make any official statement on this specific issue.
Fans Left in Limbo
For fans of Fortnite, facing this delay means having to wait out a reunion that they had hoped to enjoy soon. A lot of people were looking forward to playing the battle royale game on iOS, mainly younger players who spend more time playing on their phones.
Currently, there’s no tell-tale clue as to the timing of the app’s approval or what’s causing Apple to delay it. As time goes on, Epic’s fans become more frustrated and have started sharing their concerns on social media.
Conclusion
Fortnite being kept off the Apple App Store for over two years shows how the relationship between big tech firms and platform usage can be challenging. Even though Fortnite can come back, Apple’s delay in acting raises doubts about how they comply, and how much power developers have.
