In a disappointing turn of events for millions of iPhone users, Fortnite may never return to iOS.

While the game was taken offline globally on Friday morning for routine server maintenance and exciting new updates—including Star Wars-themed content—Epic Games has confirmed that Apple users might be permanently left out.

Epic Games says that due to ongoing tensions with Apple over App Store policies, Fortnite will remain offline on iPhones, even after it returns to platforms like PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

This isn’t a sudden fallout. The standoff dates back to 2020 when Epic bypassed Apple’s mandatory in-app payment system—a move that led to Fortnite’s removal from the App Store. The legal dispute that followed has yet to reach a stable resolution.

Although a recent EU law forced Apple to allow third-party app stores, which briefly brought Fortnite back to iOS in certain regions, the situation has taken a new turn in the U.S.

A U.S. court ruling had raised hopes for Fortnite’s return to the App Store, but Epic now claims Apple rejected its latest attempt to resubmit the game. That decision means iPhone users around the world could be locked out of Fortnite permanently.

For everyone else, Fortnite will likely be back online soon with fresh content and gameplay enhancements. But if you're an iPhone user, this might be the final goodbye—unless Apple and Epic can find common ground.