Apple has once again blocked the popular video game Fortnite from its iPhones in the United States and through the game maker’s own store in the European Union, as confirmed by Epic Games on Friday. Access to Fortnite via Apple’s iPhone Operating System and its App Store will be unavailable worldwide until the tech giant reverses its decision, according to Epic Games.
Apple has yet to release a news statement regarding the move, and Epic Games has not provided specific reasons for the blocking of Fortnite. This development comes amidst an ongoing legal battle between the two companies that began in 2020 when Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Apple, accusing it of monopolistic practices by charging up to 30 percent commission on in-app payments, which Epic claimed was a violation of U.S. antitrust laws, Reuters news report said.
In 2020, Apple banned Fortnite on App Store after Epic introduced a direct payment method that bypassed Apple’s commission structure. Following significant regulatory pressure from the European Union, Apple allowed Fortnite to return to the App Store in 2024. Additionally, Epic Games was permitted to launch its games marketplace app on iPhones and iPads in Europe in compliance with the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
The latest blocking of Fortnite occurs in the wake of a recent legal victory for Epic Games against Apple. Earlier this month, Epic Games secured a ruling that found Apple’s App Store practices in violation of certain competition laws, a decision that could have broader implications for app developers globally.
Epic Games, headquartered in the United States and partially owned by China’s Tencent, has grown into one of the world’s largest game studios since the release of Fortnite in 2017. The battle royale-style game quickly became a cultural phenomenon, amassing millions of players and generating billions in revenue.
In 2024, Epic Games experienced a notable increase in revenue, reaching approximately $5.7 billion, a 30 percent rise from the previous year, largely driven by the resurgence of Fortnite and a $1.5 billion investment from Disney. Despite overall revenue growth, third-party game sales on the Epic Games Store (EGS) declined by 18 percent, dropping to $255 million. The EGS itself generated $1.09 billion, a 15 percent year-over-year increase.
The platform expanded its PC user base to 295 million and recorded 75 million monthly active users (MAUs) in December 2023, a 10 percent increase from the previous year. Daily active users (DAUs) peaked at 36.1 million, while cross-platform accounts rose to 898 million by the end of 2024. The EGS added 1,100 new titles, expanding its game library to over 4,000 games, and gameplay hours on third-party titles increased by 11 percent, reaching 2.68 billion hours. Epic Games’ overall growth highlights its strong position in the gaming sector, though the decline in third-party sales indicates potential areas for strategic improvement.
The re-escalation of the conflict between Apple and Epic Games is being closely monitored by regulators and industry analysts, as it could set a significant precedent for how app marketplaces operate worldwide.
TelecomLead.com News Desk
