[Update] Epic is asking Apple to get Fortnite back on the App Store in Korea

Fortnite (Image credit: Epic Games)

What you need to know

Fortnite has asked Apple to restore its access to its developer account.
The company wants to re-release Fortnite on the App Store in South Korea.
It is making the request after the country passed a new law allowing alternative payment systems in apps.

Update 5 am ET 9/10: Apple has responded to Epic Games' request stating: "Epic has admitted to breach of contract and as of now, there's no legitimate basis for the reinstatement of their developer account."

Fortnite wants Apple to let it back on the App Store.

The company has sent out a tweet today announcing that it has asked Apple to restore the company's developer account so that it can re-release the popular game on the Korean App Store. The company says that it plans to offer both its own and Apple's in-app purchasing system for its customers.

Epic has asked Apple to restore our Fortnite developer account. Epic intends to re-release Fortnite on iOS in Korea offering both Epic payment and Apple payment side-by-side in compliance with the new Korean law.

Epic has asked Apple to restore our Fortnite developer account. Epic intends to re-release Fortnite on iOS in Korea offering both Epic payment and Apple payment side-by-side in compliance with the new Korean law.Epic has asked Apple to restore our Fortnite developer account. Epic intends to re-release Fortnite on iOS in Korea offering both Epic payment and Apple payment side-by-side in compliance with the new Korean law.— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) September 9, 2021 September 9, 2021

Fortnite is making the request after the South Korean government passed a new law that requires app stores like Apple and Google to allow third-party payment processing systems in addition to their own.

The law is an amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act that will prevent Apple and Google from requiring that developers use their own in-app payment methods on places like the iOS App Store and Google Play. The law also has provisions for preventing unreasonable delay to approval of apps or deleting them from the marketplace so as to prevent retalation. Failure to comply could mean massive fines for Apple, up to 3% of the company's total revenue in the country.

The change is enormous and bills of similar consequence are popping up around the world. With its latest request, Epic is attempting to take advantage of the new law as soon as possible.

Joe Wituschek is a Contributor at iMore. With over ten years in the technology industry, one of them being at Apple, Joe now covers the company for the website. In addition to covering breaking news, Joe also writes editorials and reviews for a range of products. He fell in love with Apple products when he got an iPod nano for Christmas almost twenty years ago. Despite being considered a "heavy" user, he has always preferred the consumer-focused products like the MacBook Air, iPad mini, and iPhone 13 mini. He will fight to the death to keep a mini iPhone in the lineup. In his free time, Joe enjoys video games, movies, photography, running, and basically everything outdoors.