Fortnite is back on the iPhone and iPad App Store in the United States after nearly four years. Epic Games confirmed this week that the popular game has returned to Apple’s platform. The game was removed in 2020 when Epic tried to avoid paying Apple’s commission fees for in-app purchases.
Epic Games had introduced a way for players to buy items without using Apple’s payment system. This led to Apple removing Fortnite from the App Store. Epic claimed Apple was acting as a monopoly. A federal court ruled in 2021 that Apple was not a monopoly but required Apple to allow links to other payment options outside its own system.
Epic asked the court recently to force Apple to bring Fortnite back. The judge in the case, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, said Apple could not charge fees on payments made outside its system. She criticized Apple for not restoring Fortnite sooner and scheduled a hearing for May 27, hoping the issue would be fixed before then.
On Tuesday, Apple filed a short court statement saying the problem was resolved and Fortnite could return to iOS devices. Apple did not give any further comment on the matter.
Epic is still challenging Apple’s 27% fee on outside payments. The company argues Apple is not following the court’s orders and is limiting fair competition in the app market.
Fortnite is also back on iPhones and iPads in the European Union. New digital market rules in the EU allow Fortnite to be available through the Epic Games Store and AltStore. These changes come from recent EU laws designed to make app stores more open and fair.
This return is important for Fortnite players who can now enjoy the game again on their Apple devices. The legal battle between Epic and Apple continues, especially over app payments and fees. For now, Fortnite fans can celebrate the game’s comeback.