The popular game 'Fortnite' was originally preparing to return to the iOS platform, but encountered another setback. Epic Games recently submitted a re-listing application to Apple, which was rejected, preventing 'Fortnite' from being available on the US App Store and unable to be downloaded through Epic's own store in Europe. This incident adds fuel to the long-standing dispute between the two companies, with global iOS players being the first to suffer, and it may be difficult to play 'Fortnite' in the short term.
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ToggleEpic Games: Apple Blocks Us, Global iOS Fortnite Players Suffer
Epic Games posted a statement on the social platform X on Friday, stating that Apple has blocked the listing application for 'Fortnite', preventing them from releasing the game on the US App Store or Epic Games Store in the EU region. The statement read: "Unfortunately, 'Fortnite' will not be available on iOS platforms until Apple lifts the block."
This means that whether players are in the United States or Europe, if they are using iPhone or iPad devices, they currently cannot download or update 'Fortnite' through legal channels, causing a significant impact on the gaming community.
Apple's Response: We Didn't Remove Fortnite, Just Requested Modification of Listing Method
In response to Epic's allegations, Apple issued a statement later the same day, saying they did not actively remove 'Fortnite', but requested Epic Sweden (Epic's Swedish branch) to resubmit the game version without the US App Store listing content.
Apple stated: "We only asked Epic to remove the US version to avoid affecting the distribution of Fortnite in other regions."
After Court Ruling, Epic Attempts to Return to App Store
Epic's current listing application stems from a court ruling favorable to them. About a month ago, a US judge ruled that Apple cannot charge commissions on transactions using payment methods outside the App. This ruling prompted Epic to attempt to return to the App Store, but they were unexpectedly blocked by Apple.
'Fortnite' was originally removed from the App Store in 2020 because Epic added external payment links in the game, attempting to bypass Apple's 30% commission mechanism, which has led to a legal battle that continues to this day.
EU Could Play Before, But Now Also Blocked?
Although 'Fortnite' has been downloadable through Epic's iOS digital store in the European region since 2023, thanks to the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA) allowing third-party app stores to operate legally, Epic states that they can no longer distribute 'Fortnite' on their own platform in the EU region.
This raises questions about whether Apple is indirectly blocking Epic's game distribution through technical or regulatory restrictions.
Developer's Voice: Apple Controls Too Much, Unfair to Game Companies
Gabriel Le Roux, CEO of payment infrastructure startup Primer, told CNBC that Apple's control over the App Store is too strict, making it difficult for developers to monetize and expand their market freely.
"For game companies, the economic pressure is especially huge. They often have slim profits, high customer acquisition costs, and must constantly attract users back, only to have 15 to 30% commission taken from each transaction, which directly destroys their profit model," Le Roux said.
Conflict Continues, Epic and Apple's Tug of War Persists
From the 2020 delisting to the latest blocked app submission, the war between 'Fortnite', Epic Games, and Apple has been ongoing for nearly five years. As regulations and market environments change, this battle between tech giants apparently has no end in sight.
For global 'Fortnite' fans, they may only be able to temporarily leave the battlefield and wait for the next round of confrontation between the two parties.
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According to Blockworks and Variety reports, Non-Fungible Token artist pplpleasr (Emily Yang) officially announced the launch of an independent streaming Short film media and crowdfunding platform Shibuya this week. The startup raised $6.9 million in 2022, with investors including a16z and Variant Fund. pplpleasr has never abandoned her dream of driving the film industry with blockchain technology. Emily Yang is a Taiwanese-American designer and artist. Her alias pplpleasr originated from her love of pleasing others, an abbreviation of People Pleaser. Shibuya will first release five original pilot films, allowing audiences to donate using fiat currency and then decide whether to fully fund these film projects. Online donations will be entirely used for film production, and if the fundraising goal is not met, supporters will receive a refund. A spokesperson stated in an email that while Shibuya's website does not yet mention cryptocurrency, the platform is adding blockchain features, with Coinbase's Base chain sponsoring the first season's launch event. pplpleasr said she founded Shibuya to break the traditional film studio industry system and return power to creators and fans. The first season will focus on bold original works while inviting fans to determine the content and future of the videos. In 2022, Shibuya released an animated Short film "White Rabbit" as a platform concept. The film raised $1.2 million in less than 30 minutes. pplpleasr also sold "Producer Pass" Non-Fungible Tokens at the Cannes Film Festival that year, with each Non-Fungible Token valued between $14,000 and $19,600. The Shorts premiered on Shibuya include both animated and live-action series, with episode lengths ranging from 6 to 27 minutes. The platform offers a new creative publishing platform and funding model that combines blockchain technology with the Short film trend. Blockchain enthusiasts interested in Short films can watch for free and vote for their favorite films on Shibuya.film.
