Epic Snuck One More Jab At Apple In Its Final Fortnite iPhone Update

Fortnite's Season 4 cross-collaboration event with Marvel kicks off today, but iPhone, iPad, and Mac players won't be able to join in on the fun due to the current legal dispute between Apple and Epic Games. However, while new seasonal updates won't be coming to the game on iOS, Epic did manage to sneak in one last bit of content, adding the art Tycoon character skin to the game.

The Tart Tycoon is Fortnite's representation of Apple and its monopoly, and was introduced in a commercial that satirized the 1984 Apple Macintosh personal computer advert that referenced George Orwell's novel set in a dystopian future. The advert then encouraged Fortnite players to protest against Apple and its store policies with the #FreeFortnite hashtag on social media.

A prize that players could obtain with very little effort through an in-game tournament, the reward was added as a small "adjustment" on iOS platforms. "We've deployed an adjustment on iOS and Google Play that will allow #FreeFortnite Cup winners to receive the Tart Tycoon Outfit alongside other platforms later this week," an Epic Games spokesperson explained on Reddit.

Fortnite was delisted from both Apple's store and Google Play after it introduced a new feature designed to circumvent the official payment methods of those platforms. Players with iOS devices can only play with other Apple device users in Fortnite's Chapter 2 Season 3 13.40 version, while players on other platforms move on to update 14.00's new Marvel-themed Season 4.

"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," Epic said in a statement before the new content was launched. "As a result, Fortnite's newly released Chapter 2 - Season 4 update (v14.00), will not release on iOS and macOS on August 27."

On Android, Fortnite players can still download the game directly from The Epic Games Store and benefit from reduced rates for V-Bucks. As for the legal battle between Epic and Apple, the latest verdict from Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Roger denied part of Epic's appeal for a temporary restraining order on August 24 while also temporarily declaring that Apple cannot interfere with developer tools like Unreal Engine, which Apple attempted to block.

You can read GameSpot's breakdown on Epic's Fortnite Ban and its upcoming legal battle with Apple/Google right here.