Epic seeks court enforcement for Fortnite’s App Store approval

Epic Games is urging a US federal judge to compel Apple to approve Fortnite’s return to the US App Store. In a new court filing, Epic claims Apple is violating a court order by delaying review of its app submission, despite the game’s compliance with Apple’s guidelines.

Epic says Apple is in contempt of the April injunction that prohibits it from blocking apps for including external payment links. Apple responded that it will not act on the Fortnite submission until the Ninth Circuit rules on its request to pause the injunction.

Epic argues Apple previously stated it would approve Fortnite if compliant, and that the delay is retaliatory. The dispute has affected Fortnite’s availability in the EU as well, after Apple requested a version excluding the US store.

Epic now seeks court enforcement to compel Apple to approve any compliant app, including Fortnite, for the US storefront. The decision may hinge on whether Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers again finds Apple in contempt, as she did on April 30. Apple has not publicly responded to the latest claims.

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