On May 19, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney revealed that a US District Court judge has officially ordered Apple to explain why Fortnite is still blocked from the iOS App Store — despite recent court rulings in Epic’s favor. Apple has until May 21 at 5:00 PM Pacific Time to respond.
⚖️ Latest Twist in the Apple vs. Epic Games Battle
The long-running legal battle, which began in 2020 when Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store for violating its payment policies, has seen multiple court rulings over the years. The latest development follows an April 30 court ruling stating that Apple violated a 2021 injunction related to Epic’s counterclaims.
Following that decision, Sweeney took to X (formerly Twitter) and suggested that Fortnite could return to iOS “within days.”
Epic promptly submitted updated builds of Fortnite to Apple as part of the app review process, expecting approval. But instead, Apple rejected the submission on May 16, prompting Sweeney to accuse the company of allowing senior management to “weaponize” the app review process.
🧾 Court Demands Explanation
Now, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the US District Court for the Northern District of California has issued an Order to Show Cause, compelling Apple to explain why it rejected Fortnite and why Epic’s motion to enforce the earlier injunction should not be granted.
Sweeney’s public post indicates that Apple must clearly justify its actions — especially since it previously claimed it could ignore related court orders while awaiting a stay from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
🎮 What It Means for Gamers
This ruling could significantly impact both the mobile gaming space and platform policies on the App Store. If the court sides with Epic, Fortnite could be re-approved for iOS — a huge win for players who’ve been unable to access the game natively on iPhone or iPad for nearly four years.
Moreover, the decision could set an important precedent for how Apple enforces or delays app approvals in light of legal rulings.
📆 What Happens Next?
Apple has until May 21, 5:00 PM PT to file a formal response with the court. Whether Fortnite will return to the App Store soon depends on this next critical legal move.
Stay tuned as this high-profile tech and gaming dispute moves into another pivotal chapter.