Judge Orders Apple to Approve Fortnite or Face Court Hearing

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has ordered Apple to either immediately approve Fortnite's resubmission to the iOS App Store or provide a legal justification for continuing to block the game, which was removed in 2020 after Epic Games circumvented Apple's in-app purchase system. The judge criticized Apple for ignoring court orders following a 2021 ruling that required Apple to allow external payment links and reduce its commission fees. Epic Games has filed a motion to enforce this injunction after Apple refused to act on Fortnite's resubmission until the Ninth Circuit rules on Apple's stay request. Judge Rogers warned Apple that failure to comply could lead to a court hearing, where a responsible Apple executive may be required to appear, and hinted at possible contempt charges for noncompliance. The legal battle underscores ongoing tensions over App Store policies and Apple's control over app distribution and payments. Both parties have been instructed to submit legal arguments explaining Apple's delay in compliance, with the court emphasizing that the matter could be resolved without further proceedings if Apple acts promptly.