New season Fortnite does not come out on iOS and macOS update

Epic will not release Fortnite Chapter 2: Season 4 on Thursday for iOS and macOS. The game maker says the decision is a result of the battle with Apple. Players with iPhones, iPads and Macs will therefore not be able to participate.

Users on Android can download the v14.00 update from Epic’s site or the Samsung Galaxy Store, the game maker says. After Fortnite’s disappearance from Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store, it is the first major consequence of Epic’s battle with the operators of the digital download stores.

Players with iOS devices and Mac computers can continue to play Fortnite if they already have it installed, but the new season will not be available within the game. The battle started two weeks ago when Epic put its own payment system in Fortnite. Apple then removed Fortnite from the App Store and Google removed the game from the Play Store. Epic then sued both tech giants within a short time.

The case is going to take a long time. For example, Apple estimates that it will take eight months to prepare the case and it must then be brought to court. A judge has blocked Apple’s plan to deactivate Epic’s developer accounts. That would affect all games that work with the Unreal Engine and that damage would be too great, the judge estimated.

Update, 20:18: The Verge reports that cross-play in Fortnite from Apple devices will no longer be possible from Thursday. Users of Fortnite on iOS and macOS can only fight against each other and no longer against players on other platforms.