Fortnite Returns to US iOS App Store After Court Ruling Against Apple

Fortnite has officially returned to the iOS App Store in the United States after being absent since 2020 due to a major legal battle between Epic Games and Apple. The conflict began when Epic introduced a direct-payment system in Fortnite to bypass Apple's 30% commission, leading Apple to remove the game from the App Store and a prolonged court battle ensued. A U.S. District Court ruled that Apple’s anti-steering policies were anti-competitive and required Apple to allow external payment links, ultimately leading to Fortnite's reinstatement on iOS. Apple initially resisted but was compelled to approve Fortnite's return following a judge's warning about ongoing delays. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney proposed a peace offer to Apple to extend the court-mandated commission-free framework globally, which would lead Epic to drop current and future litigation and restore Fortnite worldwide. The game's return includes new promotional incentives for using Epic’s payment system, and the popular Tart Tycoon skin may also be reintroduced in celebration of the relaunch.