Fortnite is back on the U.S. App Store, bringing an end to a prolonged issue between Epic Games and Apple over in-app payments and competition policies.
The popular battle royale game, removed in 2020, became available again this week, climbing immediately to the top of the free games chart on both iPhone and iPad.
This reappearance follows a major victory for Epic Games. A U.S. judge had ruled that Apple violated antitrust laws by limiting developers to its in-app payment system, which charges commissions of up to 30%.
That decision forced Apple to open the door for alternative payment methods. Epic acted fast. Within days, Fortnite was resubmitted for approval using Epic’s Sweden developer account, a move that Apple briefly resisted before finally relenting.
The game’s return wasn’t smooth. Earlier this month, Epic filed a formal complaint accusing Apple of blocking Fortnite’s re-entry to the U.S. store.
Apple, in response, claimed it had only asked Epic to remove the U.S. storefront from its EU-submitted version to avoid jurisdictional complications. But the presiding judge pushed back, stating in a court filing, “Apple is fully capable of resolving this issue without further briefing or a hearing.”
She warned that a top Apple executive responsible for compliance could be compelled to appear in court if the matter wasn’t resolved quickly.
By Tuesday, the deadlock was broken. Both companies filed a joint notice confirming they had “resolved all issues” raised in Epic’s May 16th submission. While Apple remained silent publicly, Epic wasted no time announcing Fortnite’s comeback across multiple platforms, including the App Store, Epic Games Store, and AltStore in the EU.
There’s also a new incentive in play. Players using Epic’s direct payment method—rather than Apple’s in-app option, receive 20% back in Epic Rewards. This offer applies across Fortnite, Rocket League, and Fall Guys, on mobile, desktop, and web versions. On iOS, users are clearly shown the cashback bonus before selecting a payment system.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney wrote in a social media post, “We back fam.”
Analyst Michael Ashley Schulman of Running Point Capital Advisors said this win opens the door for developers like Netflix and Spotify to bypass Apple’s commissions, potentially changing the financial dynamics of the iOS ecosystem. Others say the decision may be coming too late for Fortnite, whose influence peaked years ago.
“For Epic Games, this was a hard-fought win that carried a very steep price and may be too late to boost its Fortnite game that is now past its prime,” said Gil Luria of D.A. Davidson.
