Fortnite Makes a Comeback on iOS in the U.S. After Five Years
Fortnite, the immensely popular battle royale game created by Epic Games, is back on the iOS App Store in the United States after nearly five years of absence. This comeback follows a lengthy legal struggle between Epic Games and Apple regarding payment policies within apps.
Background of the Legal Dispute
In August 2020, Apple removed Fortnite from its App Store when Epic Games launched its own payment system. This move allowed users to bypass Apple's commission fees. The situation escalated into a legal battle, with Epic accusing Apple of unfair business practices. A court ruling in 2021 determined that while Apple did not break antitrust laws, it had to let developers inform users about other payment options.
Despite this ruling, Apple introduced a new system that charged fees for external transactions. Epic argued this still went against what the court decided. In April 2025, a U.S. district judge found Apple in contempt for not following court orders, which increased pressure on them legally.
The Path to Reinstatement
On May 9, 2025, Epic submitted Fortnite for review again on the U.S. App Store. Initially facing resistance from Apple, judicial intervention led to approval of their submission shortly after. By May 20, 2025, Fortnite was officially available once more for iPhone and iPad users across America.
New Features and Promotions
The updated version of Fortnite on iOS comes with exciting features including a promotion offering users an extra 20% bonus when they make purchases through Epic's payment system instead of Apple's method. This encourages players to choose alternative ways to pay within the game.
Additionally, Fortnite has launched an engaging new season themed around Star Wars that includes characters like Jar-Jar Binks and General Grievous.
Future Prospects and Challenges
While this return is seen as a major win for Epic Games, some experts are skeptical about whether it can regain its former popularity levels quickly or at all; prior to its removal from the store in August 2020, Fortnite boasted around 116 million active users on iOS devices.
The game's re-entry could also influence discussions happening elsewhere-like Canada-where similar debates over app store rules are taking place among regulators and developers alike.
In summary: Fortnite's return marks an important chapter not just for fans but also highlights ongoing issues surrounding app store policies that may affect other regions soon.