Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Billy, Fishstick and Ora are ready to take their fight global once again. The popular battle royale video game Fortnite returns to the gaming world App Store In global markets in the final chapter of the lawsuit filed by Epic Games years ago against Apple, The video game company announced Tuesday.
One caveat is that Fortnite has not yet returned to the Australian App Store. Epic Games said it was awaiting the court’s ruling on Apple’s payment terms, even though Epic Games had previously won its case.
Epic Games sued Apple in August 2020 on several grounds, raised by Apple’s 30% commission on in-app purchases in Fortnite through its App Store. When Epic tried to offer a direct payment option, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store. Epic Games also said Apple has banned developers from telling customers about cheaper payment options outside of the App Store.
Fortnite is back on the US App Store In May 2025 After a judge in California ruled that Apple’s behavior toward online transactions was in bad faith and anticompetitive. In March, Google began bringing Fortnite back to its App Store Reach an agreement This reduced developer fees from 30% to 20%, and also allowed Epic Games to offer non-Google payment options to customers.
Just to be clear, Fortnite is free to download on consoles, computers, and mobile devices. But within the app, customers can purchase skins (player outfits), weapons, emotes, battle cards, and the in-game currency known as V-bucks.
An Apple representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Pressure on Apple
Tim Sweeney, founder and owner of Epic Games, Published on X He is ready for the “final battle” in the long court case.
“Apple has segmented iOS features and fees by region, secretly taken regulatory negotiating positions, and deliberately delayed the pursuit of justice,” Sweeney said in the post.
In its announcement this week, Epic Games said it was returning Fortnite to the App Store because it believes a US federal court will force Apple “to be transparent about how it collects its App Store fees… We are confident that once Apple is forced to show its costs, governments around the world will not allow Apple’s unwanted fees to remain.”
Despite regulations enacted in Japan, the European Union and the United Kingdom, Apple has attempted to circumvent the legislation with “intimidating screens, burdensome fees and requirements,” Epic Games said. Epic Games said regulators need to enforce laws to force Apple to end its tactics.
The years-long battle royale game could benefit Epic Games and other merchants in the App Store, said Dimitri Williams, a communications professor at the University of Southern California.
“Tim Sweeney has done more than just put his money where his mouth is,” Williams told CNET. “You get a strong sense that this isn’t just a business for him, but an actual principle in a world where consumers and developers can and should make great games at affordable prices.”
If Epic succeeds in its challenge, it should make things better for game makers and players alike. “Not only does Epic help its own business, it forces Apple to ease the pain for all businesses in the store,” Williams told CNET.
