Epic Games has asked a U.S. court to compel Apple to allow Fortnite back on the App Store, alleging the tech giant is refusing to consider its application in defiance of a standing injunction. In a letter filed Friday with U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers, Epic described Apple’s actions as “the latest attempt to circumvent the injunction and the authority of this court.”
This move follows Apple’s statement that it “will not reconsider” reinstating Epic’s developer account “until the parties conclude their U.S. litigation.” Epic is now requesting an enforceable injunction that would hold Apple in civil contempt and require it to immediately approve any compliant Epic app — including Fortnite — for distribution on the U.S. App Store.
Ongoing Legal Dispute Over Fortnite’s Return
In the letter, Epic emphasized that Apple had “explicitly and repeatedly stated” — both to the court and to Epic — that Fortnite would be welcomed back if Epic followed Apple’s guidelines. Epic asserts that it has now done so. Nevertheless, Apple has reportedly blocked the latest Fortnite build, making the game unavailable on iOS worldwide. Apple responded by saying it only asked Epic Sweden to remove its U.S. storefront so that the game would remain accessible in other regions.
Judge Rogers previously noted in the initial hearing that she was “inclined not to require Apple to allow Fortnite to be put on the App Store,” and she later denied a preliminary injunction from Epic, which allowed Apple to continue its ban. Now, however, Epic is seeking a stronger legal remedy — asking the court to force Apple to restore Fortnite. For the court to grant this, Judge Rogers would likely have to find that Apple’s current stance constitutes contempt of court, notes NIX Solutions.
Injunction Enforcement and Public Pressure
Epic’s request may gain support from Judge Rogers’ recent order, which reaffirms Apple’s obligation to comply with the 2021 injunction that prevents it from interfering with third-party payment systems in apps. As public pressure builds, Epic has taken to social media platform X to speak out about the ongoing stalemate.
However, with no resolution in sight, Epic’s legal filing appears to mark a renewed effort to apply pressure through the courts. Whether this latest move will prompt a change in Apple’s position remains to be seen — yet we’ll keep you updated as more developments unfold.