Fortnite’s Return to iPhones in the UK Hits a Wall as Epic Slams Regulator’s Roadmap

As of now, it appears that Fortnite is not returning to Apple devices in the UK. (Image Credit: Epic Games/Apple)

Fortnite won’t be returning to iPhones in the UK anytime soon. Epic Games confirmed that its popular battle royale title remains locked out of iOS in the region due to regulatory roadblocks tied to the UK’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act.

In a recent blog post, Epic revealed that launching both Fortnite and the Epic Games Store on iOS in the UK this year is off the table—“if ever,” the company added. The statement follows the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)’s latest roadmaps for Apple and Google, which "choose not to prioritize opening the mobile ecosystem to alternative app stores this year."

Epic expressed disappointment over the CMA’s decision, saying this is a 'missed opportunity' to boost innovation and provide British users with more options when it comes to app stores and payment systems.

The core of Epic’s frustration lies in the fact that, despite the CMA concluding back in 2021 that Apple and Google operate “parallel monopolies” in app distribution, little has been done since then to disrupt that dominance. As a result, third-party stores like Epic’s remain shut out from iOS in the UK, in contrast to regions like the EU where new competition laws are already making an impact.

To put things in perspective, Fortnite was removed from the App Store in 2020 after Epic introduced its own in-app payment system, sparking a legal battle with Apple. That fight led to significant changes elsewhere—most notably in the U.S., where courts forced Apple to allow links to external payments, and in the EU, where the Digital Markets Act paved the way for third-party app stores like AltStore, Aptoide, and Epic’s own platform.

However, the UK remains a tougher battlefield. Epic criticized the CMA’s long-term approach, noting that store competition in the UK has been “deprioritized entirely, to be considered sometime in 2026.” The company also raised concerns about vague promises regarding external payment options, warning that without strong enforcement, Apple and Google could continue to impose “junk fees” and restrictions that undercut real competition.

While Epic prepares to roll out its store and Fortnite in countries like Brazil and Japan later this year, UK users are left in limbo. As it stands, there’s no clear timeline—or even certainty—that Fortnite will return to iPhones in the UK.

Epic concluded its statement by urging the CMA to rethink its current "week roadmap" through the upcoming consultation process, in hopes of eventually delivering fairer access and competition to British consumers.