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4mo ago

Fortnite Returns to US App Store After Five-Year Legal Battle

The popular game is back on iPhones and iPads with dual payment options following a court order against Apple.

Fortnite returns to iOS in US after 1,740 days (REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo)
Image
A 'Fortnite' loading screen on an iPhone.
After a lengthy legal dispute, Fortnite is now available on the US App Store for iPhone and iPad users.

Overview

  • Fortnite is now available on the US iOS App Store for the first time since its removal in 2020 due to a payment system dispute with Apple.
  • The new version offers both Apple’s in-app purchase system and Epic’s external payment option, with a 20% reward incentive for using Epic’s system.
  • Epic used its Sweden developer account to resubmit Fortnite after a judge ruled Apple could no longer charge commissions on external payments.
  • Apple initially delayed approval, prompting a court warning that an Apple official might need to appear at a May 27 compliance hearing.
  • The game’s return highlights broader regulatory and legal challenges to app store practices in the US and EU, with Apple appealing the court orders.