Epic Files Motion to Reinstate Fortnite on the US App Store Amid Apple Dispute

Epic Games has filed a new motion in U.S. court requesting that Apple be compelled to approve Fortnite for release on the U.S. App Store. This legal action follows Apple’s continued refusal to reinstate the popular game, despite a previous court ruling perceived by Epic to support their position. According to Epic, Apple stated it would not act on Fortnite’s submission until the Ninth Circuit Court rules on a partial stay—something Epic believes constitutes contempt of court and a violation of the injunction issued in an earlier antitrust case.

The motion references prior testimony from Apple CEO Tim Cook and seeks to highlight what Epic views as retaliation by Apple. Epic further claims the company’s actions have led to Fortnite being taken offline globally on iOS, not just in the U.S. Apple, on the other hand, maintains that it has not blocked the game globally and asserts that Epic’s latest submission does not comply with App Store guidelines.

The conflict also touches on broader regulatory issues in the EU under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which Epic hoped would support their efforts to reintroduce Fortnite through an alternative developer account. The ongoing dispute is attracting widespread media attention and intensifying scrutiny of Apple’s App Store practices worldwide.