Fortnite is making a comeback to iPhones and the U.S. iOS App Store next week following a landmark court decision, as announced by Epic CEO Tim Sweeney.
On April 30, a California federal court ruled that Apple deliberately defied a court mandate in the Epic Games v. Apple case, which required the tech giant to allow developers to offer alternative payment options outside their apps.
In a social media post, Sweeney extended an olive branch to Apple, Epic's longtime legal adversary. "If Apple implements the court's fee-free, tax-free model globally, we'll reinstate Fortnite worldwide and end all related legal actions," Sweeney stated.
Earlier this year, IGN revealed Sweeney's multibillion-dollar campaign against Apple and Google's app store policies. The Epic CEO framed these battles as strategic investments in Fortnite's future, claiming the company could sustain its legal fight indefinitely.
The high-profile conflict stems from Epic's refusal to pay the standard 30% platform fees, instead seeking to distribute Fortnite through its own store without Apple and Google taking a cut. This standoff led to Fortnite's 2020 removal from iOS devices.
Now, after nearly five years, American players will finally see Fortnite return to iPhones.
Sweeney celebrated the recent ruling on social media: "Zero fees for web transactions. This marks the end of Apple's unfair taxation."
"The 15-30% service charges are now as dead in America as they are in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. Illegal here, illegal there," he added.
The court has referred Apple to federal prosecutors for violating its injunction. "Apple's persistent anti-competitive behavior won't be excused," stated U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. "This order isn't negotiable. Willful disobedience has consequences."
The judge specifically cited Apple's finance VP Alex Roman for providing testimony "littered with half-truths and outright falsehoods" regarding compliance efforts.
Apple responded: "We fundamentally disagree with this ruling. While we'll comply, we plan to appeal."
This legal breakthrough represents Epic's first major U.S. victory after years of court battles and European regulatory wins through the Digital Markets Act.
Last year, Epic launched its mobile store in Europe's iOS and globally on Android, featuring Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys. However, mobile distribution hurdles remain, with Epic estimating that warning screens deter up to half of potential users.
The protracted legal campaign has come at significant cost. In September 2023, Epic laid off 830 employees (16% of its workforce), though Sweeney later claimed the company achieved financial stability with record performance from Fortnite and the Epic Games Store.
