Judge issues restraining order protecting Unreal Engine development on iOS

Enlarge / Epic will be allowed to continue developing Unreal Engine on iOS, even as Fortnite remains blocked on the platform, thanks to a judge's ruling. (credit: Epic)

A Northern California federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking Apple from going forward with plans to terminate Epic Games' Apple Developer Program account, which would have had a major impact on the development of Unreal Engine on iOS. At the same time, the judge left in place Apple's current blocking of Fortnite from the iOS App Store after Epic tried to insert an alternative payment platform into the mobile game.

Judge to Apple: Hands off Unreal Engine

In an eight-page ruling issued Monday night, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers largely accepted Epic's argument that Apple's Xcode and SDK agreement (used for development of Unreal Engine on iOS) is walled off and separate from the Program License Agreement that Epic allegedly breached with its actions regarding Fortnite.

"Apple's reliance on its 'historical practice' of removing all 'affiliated' developer accounts in similar situations or on broad language in the operative contract at issue here can be better evaluated with full briefing," Rogers wrote.

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