In the ongoing legal battle between Epic Games and Apple, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has intensified pressure on Apple to approve Fortnite’s re-entry into the U.S. App Store. The judge has demanded that Apple either approve the game’s submission or return to court to justify its refusal.
This development follows Epic Games’ recent motion urging the court to enforce its previous injunction, which mandated that Apple allow developers to direct users to alternative payment methods. Judge Gonzalez Rogers has requested Apple to present the legal grounds for its non-compliance and to identify the official responsible for ensuring adherence to the court’s order.
The dispute traces back to 2020 when Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store after Epic Games introduced a direct payment system, circumventing Apple’s 30% commission on in-app purchases. This led to a protracted legal confrontation over Apple’s App Store policies and their implications for competition and developer rights.
In April 2025, Judge Gonzalez Rogers found Apple in willful violation of the 2021 injunction that prohibited the company from imposing anticompetitive pricing. The judge criticized Apple for attempting to circumvent the court’s orders and accused the company of providing false testimony under oath. Despite this ruling, Apple has delayed approving Fortnite’s return to the App Store, prompting the current judicial intervention.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has been vocal about the situation, expressing frustration over Apple’s non-compliance and emphasizing the importance of fair competition in the app marketplace. The outcome of this legal standoff could have significant implications for app developers and the broader tech industry, potentially reshaping the dynamics of app distribution and in-app payment systems.
