Fortnite on iOS, Mac loses cross-play compatibility over Epic Games-Apple tussle

Fortnite’s newly released Chapter 2 - Season 4 update (v14.00), will not be available on iOS and macOS later today. Here’s what you need to know about the latest in Epic Games vs Apple.

While Android devices can still download Fortnite from the Epic Games' store and on Samsung devices from the Samsung app store, there is no such workaround for iPhones. (YouTube)

Epic Games is set to roll out next season of Fortnite today. The new season, however, will not be available to iOS or macOS users. The gaming company also confirmed that iPhone, iPad, and Mac users of Fortnite will lose cross-play with non-Apple platforms. This essentially means Fortnite users on iOS will be playing the current version of the game only and play with users in the same Apple ecosystem.

Another bad news is that those who played Fortnite on an Apple device, as well as Xbox One, PS4, Switch, PC, Android, will no longer include Apple's iPhone, iPad, and Mac as cross-platform compatibility, TheVerge reported.

This is all because Epic Games and Apple are involved in a legal tussle after the Fortnite-maker snuck an in-app payment option to avoid the controversial App Store tax. Since then, Apple has taken down Fortnite from its App Store. Epic Games, however, is holding its feet and taken Apple to the court to re-instate the game.

For now, Apple has been allowed to keep Fortnite off the App Store. A US court asked Apple not to remove all of Epic's developer accounts, though.

“Apple is blocking Fortnite updates and new installs on the App Store and has said they will terminate our ability to develop Fortnite for Apple devices. As a result, Fortnite's newly released Chapter 2 - Season 4 update (v14.00), will not release on iOS and macOS on August 27,” said Epic Games in a post titled “Why we fight.”

“If you still want to play Fortnite on Android, you can access the latest version of Fortnite from the Epic Games App for Android on Fortnite.com/Android or the Samsung Galaxy Store,” it added.