Fortnite Returns to the App Store Battlefield: Apple Faces New Scrutiny Over App Review Process

The tug-of-war between Epic Games and Apple is heating up once again. After a years-long legal war sparked by Fortnite’s removal from the App Store, Epic has submitted a new version of its flagship game for Apple’s review—one that boldly includes both Apple’s in-app purchase (IAP) mechanism and an external payment option via the Epic Games Store. This comes on the heels of a major federal court decision that redefines what Apple can—and cannot—control on its App Store.

While Apple is not legally obligated to approve the new Fortnite submission, its response could send ripples through developer relations, user trust, and the broader tech policy landscape. As Apple appeals the injunction and simultaneously reviews the Fortnite app, all eyes are on Cupertino to see whether it will allow Fortnite back or risk appearing anti-competitive in a newly evolving digital economy.

Fortnite’s Long Road Back to the App Store

2017-2020: Fortnite becomes a global phenomenon on mobile platforms.
August 2020: Epic introduces a direct payment option in Fortnite’s iOS version, violating Apple’s App Store policies.
Immediate Fallout: Apple removes Fortnite, Epic sues Apple in a calculated move to challenge the 30% commission model.
Legal Battles: Years of litigation follow, with Epic branding Apple’s ecosystem as monopolistic.
March 2024: A major court ruling forces Apple to allow external payment links and prohibits a 27% surcharge on such transactions.
Epic’s Victory?: The ruling is seen as a partial win for Epic and a significant shift in the way the App Store operates.
Apple’s Response: Apple appeals the decision and requests an emergency stay to delay enforcement.
New Submission: On Friday, Epic submits Fortnite for review with dual payment options.
Uncertainty: Apple’s review timelines and ultimate decision remain unclear; a Monday or Tuesday decision is possible.

What Undercode Say:

The decision by Epic Games to re-submit Fortnite to the App Store—after a deliberate, high-profile exit—is more than a simple game re-release. It’s a calculated test of Apple’s compliance with the evolving legal environment, a political gesture aimed at influencing developer sentiment, and a public relations gambit all in one.

This moment underscores a broader shift: the centralized, walled-garden model Apple has championed is being dismantled in real-time. For years, developers felt cornered by Apple’s 30% cut and lack of transparency in app review policies. Epic’s aggressive pushback has served as a catalyst for major structural shifts in the mobile app economy. Even if Fortnite isn’t approved, the damage to Apple’s image as a fair and neutral platform steward could be long-lasting.

If Apple denies the Fortnite update under the pretense of technical or procedural reasons, developers and regulators alike will likely cry foul. More importantly, this would paint Apple as an operator clinging to control, not as an innovator adapting to new realities. And for a company under increasing antitrust scrutiny worldwide, that’s dangerous.

From a developer’s standpoint, this battle is about choice: choice in payments, in business models, in how users are served. Apple’s recent policy shifts aren’t voluntary—they’re court-mandated. That nuance matters. The gatekeepers are being dragged toward openness, not walking there willingly.

Analytically, Fortnite’s return also serves as a referendum on how far Apple is willing to go to protect its revenue streams. If the app is approved, it signals that Apple is playing by the new rules, albeit reluctantly. If not, it may trigger renewed calls for stronger antitrust enforcement—not just in the U.S., but globally.

Epic’s use of its EU developer account to bypass the ban on its original U.S. account is a clever, if controversial, tactic. It may provoke another legal skirmish, but it clearly illustrates Epic’s commitment to testing every legal avenue to prove its point.

On a technical level, the app’s dual-payment setup is precisely the kind of configuration the recent court ruling permits. Apple may seek loopholes, but denying such an app without clearly defined and publicly stated reasons would risk reputational harm and renewed litigation.

For Apple, the stakes are enormous—not just the Fortnite outcome, but what it signals to regulators, developers, and end users. For Epic, it’s both a symbolic and functional victory, regardless of the outcome. Even in rejection, Epic makes its point: it stood for developer freedom when it mattered.

Fact Checker Results:

✅ Epic is allowed to offer external payment links following the March 2024 court ruling.
✅ Apple has submitted a stay request, but it has not yet been granted.

✅ Fortnite was re-submitted via

Prediction:

If Apple approves Fortnite within a week, it will likely do so quietly, perhaps under the radar, to avoid appearing as though it’s caving to pressure. If it delays or rejects the submission, expect significant backlash not only from Epic but from a developer community growing more vocal about Apple’s control. Either way, this single app review could become a landmark moment in the future of digital marketplaces.

References:

Reported By: 9to5mac.com
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