Fortnite Returns to US iOS App Store Ending Apple’s In-App Purchase Fees

Epic Games’ Fortnite is making a highly anticipated return to the US iOS App Store after a pivotal legal victory against Apple. This development concludes a protracted legal dispute that began in 2020 when Apple removed Fortnite from its store due to Epic’s introduction of direct payment options that bypassed Apple’s 30% in-app purchase fee.

The conflict centered on Apple’s policy requiring all digital transactions within apps to go through its payment system, which charges developers a significant commission. Epic challenged this, arguing that it was anti-competitive and unfair to developers and consumers alike.

In 2021, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple could not prohibit developers from including external links or buttons that direct users to alternative payment methods outside the iOS ecosystem. However, Fortnite did not immediately return to the App Store, as Epic awaited the ability to offer in-app payments on fair terms.

Recently, the same judge found Apple in “willful violation” of this injunction, criticizing the company’s attempts to circumvent the ruling. This decisive judgment has forced Apple to comply, effectively ending the so-called “Apple Tax” on web transactions in the US, mirroring regulatory changes already enforced in Europe under the Digital Markets Act.

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney celebrated the ruling, emphasizing that it took over four years to reach this milestone. He highlighted that Apple’s 15-30% fees on in-app purchases are now unlawful in the US, just as they are in Europe, signaling a major shift in how digital goods and services will be monetized on mobile platforms.

This landmark decision has broad implications for developers, consumers, and platform operators. It opens the door for more competitive payment options, potentially lowering costs for users and increasing revenue shares for developers. It also sets a precedent for regulatory scrutiny of app store policies worldwide.

For developers, this ruling encourages innovation in payment processing and user engagement strategies without the constraints of mandatory platform fees. For consumers, it promises more transparent pricing and potentially lower costs for digital content and services.

As Fortnite returns to the iOS App Store, it symbolizes a new era in app marketplace dynamics, where platform control is balanced with developer freedom and consumer choice. This case will likely influence future legal and regulatory approaches to digital marketplaces globally.