The return of Fortnite to the App Store is once again stuck in limbo, and Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney is calling Apple out. According to Sweeney, Apple has neither approved nor rejected the latest submission of Fortnite, which threatens to derail a major content update planned for this Friday.
Apple’s silence may not be accidental
Sweeney revealed that Epic submitted Fortnite for review on May 9, shortly after Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers reaffirmed a 2021 order requiring Apple to comply with certain terms related to developer access. However, Apple gave no response for five days, prompting Epic to withdraw and resubmit a new version to meet the update deadline.
Apple’s own rules state that 90% of submissions are reviewed within 24 hours, so this level of silence is highly unusual. It may be a tactical move: the original court ruling clearly stated that Apple is not obligated to allow Fortnite back, given Epic’s prior violation of App Store rules.
Sweeney turns to public pressure
Sweeney has been vocal on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting how fake Fortnite clones continue to be approved by Apple while the original game remains in limbo. He shared screenshots of knock-offs with names like Epic Survival Battle Royale 3D, which Apple eventually removed—but only after public exposure.
Fortnite’s fate still unclear
With a Friday update looming and no response from Apple, Fortnite fans on iOS remain stuck in uncertainty. Sweeney hasn’t disclosed what Epic’s next move will be, but the public campaign suggests the battle is far from over.