According to a recent Reuters report, the Supreme Court has denied Apple’s request to block a judge’s order that would allow Epic Games to return to District Court to discuss how much Apple should be allowed to charge for purchases made off the App Store. Epic Games has accused Apple of allegedly stalling Fortnite being added back onto the App Store, including allegedly using excessive fees as a means of doing so.
Previously, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers favored Apple in nine out of ten counts in a 2021 lawsuit filed by Epic Games against both Apple and Google for alleged antitrust and anticompetitive behaviors. However, she did favor Epic Games in their accusations of Apple of allegedly violating anti-steering policies by allegedly forcing developers to use in-app purchases, making it so companies could utilize off-App Store purchases without being blocked by Apple, who often take a 15-30% cut, whereas prices offered directly through the Epic Games store are much lower. Apple was later found in violation of this ruling in 2025, where Epic Games accused Apple of allegedly imposing new fees and creating barriers to competition.
The decision made on May 6 to deny Apple’s request came after Epic Games filed response to said request where they claimed Apple had shown no evidence of any harm, and that by delaying the case, game devs and publishers would only suffer more by creating uncertainty about what Apple is actually allowed to charge developers on its store. Said decision has been celebrated by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney on X, who wrote, “Great news – the Supreme Court denied Apple’s delay tactics. Now we head back to the District Court to determine what Apple can charge for only the necessary costs of implementing external purchase links”. Epic Games have also come to a settlement with Google who is now allowing Fortnite to be digitally distributed again through the Google Play store, available in the U.S., the EU, and Australia.