Tim Sweeney Calls Out Apple for Allowing Fake Fortnite Games While Blocking the Real One
Searching for why Fortnite isn't back on the iOS App Store yet? You're not alone. Despite Epic Games submitting Fortnite for reapproval, Apple still hasn’t greenlit the game—leaving millions of mobile gamers in the dark. Meanwhile, fake Fortnite clones are flooding the App Store, and Epic CEO Tim Sweeney is publicly calling out Apple’s delay, accusing the tech giant of letting bootleg apps thrive while blocking the official game. If you’re wondering when Fortnite will return to iPhone or why Apple hasn’t approved it yet, here’s what’s happening—and why it matters for both gamers and app developers.
It’s been nearly a week since Epic Games submitted Fortnite to the U.S. iOS App Store, and Apple has yet to approve it. According to Apple, 90% of app reviews happen within 24 hours—but Fortnite is still stuck in limbo. This silence comes right after the April 30 ruling in the Epic Games vs. Apple legal battle, which restricted Apple’s ability to charge fees on off-App Store purchases. That ruling gave Epic the green light to relaunch Fortnite—at least in theory.
While Epic’s official submission sits in review purgatory, Tim Sweeney is using X (formerly Twitter) to spotlight fake Fortnite games that somehow passed Apple’s vetting process. One such clone, Fort Battle Royale Epic Shoot, featured Fortnite-like graphics and misleading branding. After Sweeney's post, the game was quickly removed—but he soon pointed to another copycat still live on the store: Epic Survival Battle Royale 3D.
This public shaming highlights a long-standing issue for Apple: its App Store has previously allowed knockoffs of popular titles like Minecraft, PUBG, and now Fortnite—raising concerns about app security, developer rights, and consumer trust.
Sweeney didn’t stop at exposing Fortnite fakes. He directly responded to Apple CEO Tim Cook, tweeting, “Hi Tim. How about if you let our mutual customers access Fortnite? Just a thought.” That tweet underscores Epic’s continued frustration over what it sees as Apple stalling the return of one of the world’s most popular battle royale games.
Epic even submitted a new version of Fortnite on May 9 to meet its cross-platform update schedule, which requires simultaneous rollouts on all devices. Without Apple’s approval, that Friday update is now in jeopardy—impacting players across iOS, Android, and consoles alike.
This isn’t just a squabble between billion-dollar companies. It’s a defining moment for the future of mobile gaming, app store regulation, and developer monetization. Apple's control over its ecosystem has long been criticized by developers who want more freedom to offer in-app purchases and updates without stringent gatekeeping.
As of now, Apple hasn’t issued an official response. Epic says it has not received either a rejection or an acceptance. For fans eagerly waiting to drop into Tilted Towers from their iPhones again, the wait continues. If Apple maintains its silence and Fortnite misses another content update, Epic could delay releases across all platforms—a bold but risky move.
Apple’s handling of fake games, coupled with its delay in approving Fortnite, is drawing scrutiny from both the gaming community and app developers worldwide. As regulators and lawmakers keep a close eye on digital marketplace practices, this very public dispute could have far-reaching consequences.
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