In a significant blow to Apple, a U.S. federal appeals court has rejected the tech giant’s request to delay implementing a key portion of a court-ordered reform to its App Store policies, stemming from its high-profile antitrust battle with video game developer Epic Games.

The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Apple’s emergency motion to pause a mandate requiring the company to allow third-party developers to direct users to alternative payment methods outside the App Store. The company had hoped to delay the enforcement while it considers taking the case to the Supreme Court.

This legal development is rooted in the 2020 lawsuit filed by Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, which accused Apple of anti-competitive practices by maintaining strict control over its App Store and taking commissions of up to 30% on in-app purchases. While a 2021 district court largely sided with Apple, it did rule that the company’s anti-steering rules—those that prohibit developers from informing users about external payment options—were in violation of California's Unfair Competition Law.

The ruling was later upheld in part by the Ninth Circuit in 2023, setting in motion a deadline for Apple to comply. Apple has resisted, claiming the changes could harm users by increasing security risks and undermining the integrity of its payment systems. But the court on Wednesday dismissed Apple’s concerns, stating that the company failed to demonstrate the type of irreparable harm needed to justify a stay.

“This order marks a pivotal shift in the mobile app economy,” legal analysts say. “It opens the door for developers to sidestep Apple’s commission structure, likely reducing the tech giant’s billions in annual App Store revenue.”

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney welcomed the decision, calling it “a victory for developers and consumers around the world.” The ruling means that app developers can now provide users with links or buttons leading to their own payment platforms, thereby avoiding Apple’s commission fees.

The U.S. Supreme Court still may choose to hear the broader case, but for now, Apple will be required to comply with the App Store injunction as early as July 2025. The company has not yet indicated how it plans to implement the required changes.

This decision is expected to reverberate across the tech industry, especially among developers and regulators globally scrutinizing digital gatekeeping by major platform holders.