Epic Asks Court to Compel Apple to Reinstate Fortnite on U.S. App Store Amid Ongoing Legal Battle

Epic Games has filed a brand new motion asking the court to force Apple into reviewing and approving Fortnite’s return to the U.S. App Store. They’re saying Apple’s refusal is violating a recent injunction and it’s basically contempt of court, or so they claim. Epic wants Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to order Apple to accept any Fortnite build that follows the rules without delay, because according to them, the app already meets all of Apple’s guidelines. Apple, however, insists it won’t reconsider Fortnite until all the ongoing U.S. litigation is finished, so this dispute keeps dragging on.

 

Epic’s Motion to Enforce the Injunction

In their filing, Epic argues Apple’s refusal directly contradicts the injunction issued April 30, 2025 which said Apple cannot reject apps just for including external payment links. They request the judge to find Apple in civil contempt and to mandate that any compliant Fortnite submission be approved immediately. Epic also reminds the court of Apple’s own trial testimony, where CEO Tim Cook admitted it’d benefit users to have Fortnite back in the App Store, so Epic believes there’s no reason for further delays.

 

Apple’s Response and Current Stance

Apple has told Epic it won’t act on the latest Fortnite submission “until after the Ninth Circuit Court rules on the partial stay,” which Epic says is defying the court’s injunction. Apple also says it asked Epic’s Swedish unit to remove the U.S. storefront from the build, to avoid disrupting other regions, and that under the developer agreement it retains rights to reject non-compliant apps. In a statement to PYMNTS, Apple clarified the request was to resubmit without the U.S. storefront so Fortnite’s updates wouldn’t be held up everywhere.

 

 

Legal and Regulatory Context

Fortnite was first pulled from the U.S. App Store in August 2020 when Epic introduced its own in-app purchase system to avoid Apple’s 30% fee. Later, the EU’s Digital Markets Act let Fortnite return via third-party stores, but Apple demanded separate regional versions, which ultimately took Fortnite offline globally on iOS. The April 30 injunction required Apple to allow external payment links alongside its own system, but Apple has been slow to comply as it pursues further appeals.

What Comes Next

Judge Gonzalez Rogers previously declined to immediately reinstate Fortnite, though she’s shown frustration with Apple’s lack of compliance and may side with Epic this time. If the motion succeeds, Fortnite could be back in the U.S. App Store within days, but Apple is expected to appeal any such ruling to the Ninth Circuit, extending the saga. Both parties are gearing up for more hearings, and the outcome could have far-reaching effects on app store policies and developer rights.

 

 

Written By - Farjana Jamal, Freelancer, India Today Gaming