Epic Games Resubmits 'Fortnite' to Apple App Store Amid Ongoing Dispute

Epic Games has taken another step in its long-standing battle with Apple by resubmitting the popular game 'Fortnite' to the Apple App Store. This follows a recent legal victory that allowed Epic to bring the game back to the U.S. market. However, as of now, the game remains unavailable, with no response from Apple regarding the submission made last Friday.

The absence of 'Fortnite' on iPhones has left fans eagerly waiting. Epic Games had previously withdrawn the game after submitting it for review, indicating that they wished to launch new content across all platforms simultaneously. Epic's CEO, Tim Sweeney, expressed his frustration on social media about the lack of updates from Apple, suggesting that the review process for 'Fortnite' appears unusually delayed.

Typically, Apple reviews new app submissions within 24 hours for about 90% of apps. However, 'Fortnite' is a unique case due to its contentious history with Apple. The two companies have been entangled in a legal dispute for over five years regarding the inclusion of direct web payment options within the game, which would allow Epic to avoid Apple's revenue cut.

After secretly testing a feature that enabled such web payments, Apple responded by removing 'Fortnite' from the App Store, which led to Epic filing a lawsuit. Recently, a judge ruled in favor of Epic, mandating that Apple cease collecting commissions on web-based payments and allowing developers to include links to external payment methods. This ruling has benefited other applications, like Spotify and Amazon's Kindle app, which have successfully integrated web payment options without Apple taking a cut.

Despite these changes, 'Fortnite' remains in limbo as Apple has yet to approve its return. Apple has appealed the recent ruling, which may further complicate matters. While Sweeney has not disclosed specific plans regarding Epic's next steps if Apple continues to delay, the situation raises questions about the company's compliance with the ruling and what it means for their ongoing legal battle.

In the European Union, 'Fortnite' is already accessible on iPhones through the Epic Games Store, a situation allowed by the Digital Markets Act. The current submission under discussion pertains solely to the U.S. App Store, leaving American players still waiting for their favorite game to return.