Apple denies Fortnite on iOS, will not return to the App Store

Apple has officially denied Fortnite's return to iOS platforms, Epic today announced.

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Fortnite will not be returning to the App Store. Epic had originally submitted Fortnite on May 9, and today the company confirmed Apple's decision.

"Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission so we cannot release to the US App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union. Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it," the official Fortnite Twitter posted this morning.

District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers had previously found Apple's conduct to be anti-competitive, and ruled that the firm would allow consumers to buy content outside of the App Store via third-party payment systems. Then earlier this month, Judge Rogers ruled that Apple "willfully chose not to comply" with the aforementioned court order by misleading consumers and attempting to thwart access to these side-lined purchases.

However, the courts did not expressly rule that Apple would have to allow the $20 billion battle royale franchise on iOS or the App Store at any point.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney commented on Apple's rather lengthy decision-making process with Fortnite:

"Apple's App Review team should be free to review all submitted apps promptly and accept or reject according to the plain language of their guidelines. App Review shouldn't be weaponized by senior management as a tool to delay or obstruct competition, due process, or free speech."

Earlier this month, Sweeney had also said that Fortnite's return to mobile would represent "massive growth opportunities" for Epic.