Fortnite to Return to iPhone in the US After Apple Court Defeat

Epic Games says Fortnite will return to the U.S. App Store next week, ending a 4-year standoff with Apple.

The announcement came from Epic CEO Tim Sweeney on X, just hours after a California court found Apple in “willful violation” of a 2021 injunction that barred the company from blocking competing payment methods in iOS apps.

“Apple’s 15-30% junk fees are now just as dead here in the United States as they are in Europe,” wrote Sweeney, referencing similar rulings under the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The ruling, he said, marks the end of the so-called “Apple tax” on third-party purchases.

Epic’s lawsuit originally challenged Apple’s tight control over app payments, which forced developers to use Apple’s system and pay fees of up to 30%. The court found Apple’s continued restrictions violated the 2021 order.

Sweeney also floated a broader peace deal: if Apple allows the same fee-free policy worldwide, Epic would restore Fortnite globally on iOS and drop all ongoing legal action related to the issue.

When asked whether Epic takes a cut from developers on its own game store, Sweeney said developers can keep 100% of their earnings if they use their own payment systems. Using Epic’s system results in a 12% fee, still far lower than Apple’s former model.

So how did we get here? In August 2020, Epic Games purposely violated Apple’s App Store rules by introducing a direct payment option in Fortnite that bypassed Apple’s in-app purchase system and its 30% commission. This led Apple to immediately booting Fortnite from the App Store.

In response, Epic filed a lawsuit against Apple and launched a marketing campaign that included a parody of Apple’s iconic “1984” commercial, portraying Apple as a monopolist. The move was a planned attempt by Epic to challenge Apple’s control over app distribution and payment systems on iOS, kickstarting a massive legal battle over antitrust issues and digital marketplace practices.

In early 2024, Epic Games won a key victory in the EU when regulators found Apple in violation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) for blocking developers from directing users to alternative payment methods. As a result, Apple was forced to allow third-party app stores and payment systems on iOS devices in the EU.

Epic regained its developer account in the region, enabling it to relaunch the Epic Games Store and bring Fortnite back to iPhones and iPads in Europe without paying Apple’s 30% commission. The ruling marked a huge step in Epic’s broader campaign against Apple’s control over app distribution and payments.

The super popular Fortnite had been off the App Store for 4 years, 4 months, and 17 days. No word if Fortnite will also return to iOS for users in Canada.