Epic Games has announced that “Fortnite: Save the World” will no longer be playable on macOS. The reason is that Apple has terminated Epic Games’ developer account.
Apple is preventing Epic from signing games and patches for distribution on Mac, which ends our ability to develop and offer Fortnite: Save the World for the platform. Specifically, our upcoming v14.20 release will cause bugs for players on v13.40, resulting in a very poor experience. Since we are no longer able to sign updates and release fixes for these issues, beginning September 23, 2020, Fortnite: Save the World will no longer be playable on macOS.
We are issuing a refund for all players who purchased any Save the World Founder’s or Starter Packs (including Upgrades) and played Save the World on macOS between September 17, 2019 and September 17, 2020. Additionally, any purchased V-Bucks spent on Llamas on macOS in this period will also be refunded. As of today, September 17, 2020, Save the World Starter Packs will no longer be available for purchase on macOS.
Epic violated App Store rules on August 13, when it introduced a direct payment option in Fortnite that attempted an end-run around Apple’s in-app purchases system. Shortly after the move was discovered, Apple removed the game from the App Store, which led to a lawsuit from Epic and a fierce legal battle between the two companies.
Apple then told Epic Games it would terminate the company’s complete access to its App Store and app development tools. Epic Games said that Apple told it that on August 28, all access will be terminated. And it has.
Apple has said that it’s ready to welcome Fortnite back to the App Store if Epic Games will remove the game’s new direct payment option. Epic has refused to back down, however.
Fortnite: Battle Royale remains playable for Mac users at this time on the v13.40 build, but is no longer receiving version updates due to Apple’s actions.
As you can see, Epic Games blames the development on “Apple’s actions.”
Fortnite developer has filed for a preliminary injunction that would allow the game back into the App Store and restore the company’s developer account access. However, Epic Games would like all of this to happen without removing the game’s direct payment option that violates Apple’s App Store policies. The hearing is scheduled to take place on September 28.
