Fortnite, one of the most influential games of the last decade, is officially back on iPhones and iPads in the United States. This marks a dramatic conclusion – at least for now – to a legal and commercial saga that began in August 2020, when Epic Games deliberately breached Apple’s App Store payment policies, igniting a courtroom showdown that rippled across the tech industry.
From Removal to Return: A Legal and Strategic Power Play
Epic Games triggered its removal from the App Store in 2020 by introducing a direct-payment option within Fortnite, bypassing Apple’s 30% commission on in-app purchases. The move was both a financial tactic and a calculated provocation. Apple responded by immediately pulling the game from the store. Epic, in turn, launched a high-profile lawsuit arguing Apple’s control over the iOS ecosystem was monopolistic.
What followed was a protracted legal battle. The court eventually ruled that Epic had violated its developer agreement, but also found Apple’s anti-steering policies – rules that stopped developers from directing users to external payment options – were anti-competitive and needed to be changed. As a result, Apple was ordered to allow external links for payments in apps distributed via its U.S. App Store.
On May 9, 2025, Epic submitted a new version of Fortnite using its Sweden-based developer account. However, Apple initially resisted restoring the app, citing unresolved appeal processes. That changed when U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers intervened. She warned that Apple would have to justify its delay in court or allow the app to be published immediately. Apple cleared the game through review in early May and Fortnite officially returned to the App Store on May 20, 2025.
Shortly after the court ruling, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney offered what he called a peace proposal: if Apple agreed to apply the new U.S. court-mandated, commission-free framework globally, Epic would not only restore Fortnite worldwide but also drop all current and future litigation on the issue.
What Changes with Fortnite’s iOS Relaunch?
The version of Fortnite now available in the U.S. includes web-based payment links – exactly the kind of feature that sparked the 2020 removal. But under the current legal framework, Apple is required to permit such external payment systems for apps on its U.S. App Store. This reflects a significant shift in the mobile app economy and a limited but hard-fought win for Epic.
To incentivize the use of its own payment platform, Epic has rolled out a 20% cashback offer through its Epic Rewards program. This applies to purchases made within Fortnite, Rocket League, and Fall Guys, reinforcing Epic’s broader goal of building a payment system independent of Apple’s infrastructure.
Epic is also preparing to launch its own mobile webshop next month, complete with a zero-commission scheme for developers who publish through the Epic Games Store. This initiative not only seeks to undercut Apple’s fees but aims to attract other mobile game developers who want more control over revenue and distribution.
What This Means for Players and the Industry
For players in the U.S., the return of Fortnite to iPhones and iPads is a major development. The game remains cross-platform, meaning progress, purchases, and in-game cosmetics are shared across console, PC, and mobile. The iOS version is especially important for users without access to gaming consoles or high-end PCs, making the mobile experience a critical part of Fortnite’s audience base.
However, availability remains uneven. While Fortnite is back in the U.S. App Store and also available through the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the European Union, it has not yet returned to App Store markets in other regions. Apple is still appealing parts of the court’s ruling, and international compliance with these new developer freedoms is not yet universal. That means players in other countries will continue to wait – possibly indefinitely – for similar access.
For the industry, this relaunch marks a possible inflection point. Epic’s ongoing strategy – and its willingness to fight Apple in court for years – sets a precedent that may embolden other developers to demand better revenue terms and platform flexibility. The outcome could slowly reshape how mobile platforms operate, not just in the U.S. but globally.
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