Fortnite is back on iOS (sort of)

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After nearly five years, Fortnite is finally returning to Apple’s App Store, but only for iPhone and iPad users in the US, at least for now. This comes after a long legal battle between Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite, and Apple.

The conflict began in 2020 when Epic added its own payment system to the Fortnite app. This allowed players to buy in-game items without going through Apple’s system, which takes a cut of every purchase. 

Apple didn’t like that and kicked Fortnite off the App Store for breaking its rules. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney pushed back hard, launching a public campaign and taking Apple to court. 

Sweeney recently thanked fans and supporters on social media, especially those who supported Epic’s push for more competition and fairness in mobile app stores.

Epic’s persistence paid off. In a recent court decision, a US judge ruled that Apple must allow apps to offer other payment options, not just Apple’s. 

The court also found that Apple had violated a previous 2021 order by continuing to block competition and outside payment links. As a result, Apple had to let Fortnite back on the App Store in the US.

The judge, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, strongly criticized Apple, saying the company was deliberately ignoring court orders to protect its billions in revenue. She even referred one of Apple’s executives for a possible criminal investigation.

Though Fortnite is now back in the US, it still won’t appear in App Store searches in other countries. Apple is still facing legal challenges in other regions. (Via: Digital Trends)

However, in Europe, users can download Fortnite from alternative platforms like the Epic Games Store and AltStore.

This case has become a major example of how tech giants control digital marketplaces and how smaller developers are fighting for more freedom, fairer rules, and a more open app ecosystem.

Are you going to play Fortnite on iOS again? Have you already installed it? Tell us down below in the comments, or reach us via our Twitter or Facebook.