Fortnite Returns to U.S. App Store After Five-Year Ban
Fortnite, the globally popular battle royale game, has officially made its comeback to the U.S. App Store, five years after it was pulled due to a legal battle between Epic Games and Apple.
Back in 2020, Apple removed Fortnite from its platform after Epic introduced a direct payment method that bypassed Apple’s in-app purchase system, offering players a 20% discount. The move triggered a high-profile lawsuit in which Epic accused Apple of enforcing monopolistic practices.
Following years of legal wrangling, Epic secured a major win. A U.S. federal judge ruled that Apple had “willfully violated” antitrust laws, paving the way for developers to offer alternative payment options without paying fees to Apple. As a result, Apple must now allow third-party payments within iOS apps.
Fortnite’s re-entry to the App Store comes after a brief delay in approval. Epic Games had accused Apple of stalling the relaunch in both the U.S. and Europe. However, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers recently demanded Apple either approve Fortnite or present a valid legal reason to deny it, effectively tipping the scales in Epic’s favor.
Now, Fortnite is back on iOS, and it includes a compelling incentive: users who purchase in-game items directly through Epic’s method receive a 20% cashback reward — another nod to the ongoing challenge of Apple’s fee model.
In the European Union, Fortnite is also now available via the Epic Games Store and AltStore, with visibility in App Store search results expected shortly.
This development marks a turning point not only for Epic but also for app developers worldwide, setting a precedent in the ongoing fight for fair digital marketplaces.
