Epic Plans Fortnite Return to iOS Australia After Court Ruling

Following a landmark ruling by the Australian Federal Court, Epic Games announced that Fortnite and the Epic Games Store will return to iOS devices in Australia, marking a significant victory for developers and consumers. The court found that Apple and Google abused their dominant control over app distribution and imposed up to 30 percent commission fees on in-app purchases, which substantially lessened competition, though it rejected claims of consumer law violations or unconscionable conduct. Epic Games will distribute Fortnite on iOS through its own Epic Games Store, bypassing Apple’s traditional App Store model, in response to the court's decision that supports third-party app storefronts similar to recent changes seen in other regions. Both Apple and Google expressed disagreement with parts of the ruling, particularly regarding billing practices and historical partnerships, and indicated they would review the full decision before determining their next steps. The court's extensive judgment, spanning over 2,000 pages, remains confidential, and details are awaited as Epic navigates the complexities of the antitrust ruling. This case continues the broader global legal battle initiated by Epic against Apple and Google over app store ecosystem control and payment policies.