Fortnite’s iOS Return Faces Apple Delay: Is History Repeating?
The highly anticipated return of Fortnite to the iOS App Store appears to be facing unexpected delays, sparking concerns and speculation about Apple's motives. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has publicly voiced his frustration, noting that Apple has yet to approve the game's submission despite the company's claims of swift review times. This situation echoes the contentious history between the two companies, raising questions about whether Apple is intentionally obstructing Fortnite's comeback.
Epic's Submission and Apple's Silence
According to Sweeney, Fortnite was submitted to Apple for review on May 9, but as of May 14, no approval had been granted. "No news from Apple yet. They've had it since last Friday," Sweeney tweeted. He further revealed that Epic had emailed Apple for an update but hadn't received a response. This delay is particularly noteworthy considering Apple's own developer guidelines, which state that "on average, 90% of submissions are reviewed in less than 24 hours."
The Update Dilemma
Adding another layer of complexity, Fortnite's frequent content updates pose a significant challenge. Sweeney explained that due to the need for cross-platform compatibility, the game requires weekly updates that must be synchronized across all platforms. This means that Epic had to resubmit the game with new content just five days after the initial submission.
A History of Conflict
The current situation is set against a backdrop of a long-standing legal battle between Epic and Apple. In 2020, Epic sued Apple over the company's 30% cut on in-app purchases and its ban on alternative payment methods. Fortnite was subsequently removed from the App Store after Epic introduced a direct payment option that bypassed Apple's fees.
Apple was later ordered to allow iOS developers to link to external payment options. While Apple has complied, it also introduced a 27% commission on purchases made through web links and displayed prompts that discouraged users from using these links. A recent court ruling found Apple in violation of a 2021 injunction. Should Fortnite return to iOS, players will have the choice of how to make purchases, a freedom previously blocked by Apple.
App Store's Unusual Delay
This isn't the first time Sweeney has called out the unusual delay. "Fortnite has been in the iOS App Store for 100 hours, which is highly unusual for the App Store."
What's Next?
Will Apple re-admit Fortnite peacefully, or will the company create another potential conflict with Epic Games? Only time will tell.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Related issues news
Is Fortnite on iOS yet?
You can download Fortnite: Epic Games Store on iOS/iPadOS.
When will Fortnite be on mobile?
Play on Mobile Fortnite is now available worldwide on Android, and on iOS and iPadOS in the European Union, thanks to the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Get it through the mobile Epic Games Store (which you can get from fortnite.com/download).
Is Fortnite back on the App Store?
There's been no word from Apple so far, but Epic Games opted to pull its first App Store review request, and has now resubmitted Fortnite.
