Fortnite Returns to iPhones After Legal Victory Over Apple App Store Policies

After years of back-and-forth legal battles, Fortnite is finally set to make its return to iPhones and iPads in the United States. This marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite, and Apple, the operator of the App Store.

The dispute centers on Apple's App Store policies, particularly its developer fees and restrictions on payment methods. Epic Games challenged Apple's control, arguing that Apple’s practices were anticompetitive and harmed developers and consumers alike.

In a landmark ruling by the US District Court for the Northern District of California, Apple was found to have acted in bad faith by restricting web transactions and maintaining anticompetitive pricing structures. The court ordered Apple to comply with injunctions that prohibit interference with competition, including allowing developers to direct users to third-party payment options.

Following this ruling, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced that Fortnite would return to the US iOS App Store by May 11. He also proposed a peace offer: if Apple extends this friction-free, Apple-tax-free payment framework worldwide, Epic would return Fortnite globally and drop current and future litigation related to these issues.

Fortnite’s return to iOS devices is expected to include special content such as the Tart Tycoon skin, a parody of Apple, and the Tart Tycoon Cup event, celebrating the game’s relaunch on the platform.

This development follows a complex legal history: Fortnite was removed from the App Store in 2020 after Epic introduced a direct payment system that bypassed Apple’s fees. Although Apple won the initial court battle, the court mandated Apple to remove anti-steering restrictions, allowing developers to inform users about alternative payment methods.

Apple appealed the ruling and won, but the anti-steering injunction remained intact. Epic Games later returned to court in 2025, accusing Apple of non-compliance with the original injunction. The court sided with Epic, enforcing immediate compliance and barring Apple from charging developers for payments outside the App Store.

Epic Games is also pursuing similar legal actions against Google and Samsung to achieve comparable payment freedom for users on the Google Play Store.

Broader Implications for Developers and the App Economy

This ruling signals a shift in how major app platforms regulate payments and developer interactions. By mandating Apple to allow alternative payment methods and transparent communication, the court is fostering a more competitive and developer-friendly ecosystem. This could lower costs for developers and increase consumer choice.

For developers, this creates new opportunities to innovate in monetization strategies without being constrained by platform fees. For consumers, it promises more payment options and potentially lower prices. The Fortnite case exemplifies the growing tension between platform owners and app creators, highlighting the need for fair and transparent app store policies.