Judge Warns Apple to Resolve Fortnite Dispute or Show Up in Court

A U.S. federal judge has given Apple a clear ultimatum: resolve its dispute with Epic Games over Fortnite’s return to the U.S. App Store—or explain the holdup in court.

In a Monday court order, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said Apple has until May 27 to cooperate, or an Apple executive must appear before her to answer questions.

“Apple is fully capable of resolving this issue without further briefing or a hearing,” she wrote, expressing frustration with the company’s delay in reinstating Fortnite—a game at the centre of a nearly five-year legal battle between the two companies.

The warning comes after Epic CEO Tim Sweeney announced earlier this month that Fortnite would be resubmitted to the App Store, following a recent court win. But Apple has held off on approving the app while it appeals the ruling.

According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Gonzalez Rogers didn’t directly order Apple to restore Fortnite, but made it clear that the current stalemate may not fly in court. She asked Apple to name by Wednesday which of its executives would be “fully prepared to answer any questions on the topic” if needed.

This latest tension follows her April 30 ruling, where Gonzalez Rogers found Apple had violated a 2021 court order that required the company to allow third-party payment links in apps. She accused an Apple executive of lying under oath and referred the matter to federal prosecutors for possible criminal contempt.

For Canadians, once Fortnite returns to the U.S. App Store, you should be able to download the game by signing into the App Store with your U.S. Apple Account.

Apple is appealing that ruling and seeking to pause enforcement. Meanwhile, Epic has accused the company of removing Fortnite from third-party marketplaces in the European Union—a claim Apple has denied.