Fortnite is set to make a triumphant return to the U.S. iOS App Store and iPhones next week, following a pivotal court ruling, as announced by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney. On April 30, a U.S. Federal District Court in California ruled that Apple had wilfully violated a court order from the Epic Games v. Apple case. This order mandated Apple to allow developers to provide alternative payment methods outside their apps, a decision that has now paved the way for Fortnite's comeback.
In response to the ruling, Sweeney took to Twitter to propose a "peace proposal" to Apple, with whom Epic has been engaged in legal battles for years. "If Apple extends the court's friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide, we'll return Fortnite to the App Store worldwide and drop current and future litigation on the topic," Sweeney stated, indicating a willingness to resolve their ongoing disputes if Apple complies globally.
Sweeney's determination to bring Fortnite back to mobile platforms without paying the customary 30% store fees has been a long-standing battle. Epic prefers to operate its games, such as Fortnite, through its own Epic Games Store, bypassing the fees imposed by Apple and Google. This disagreement led to Fortnite's removal from iOS in 2020. Now, nearly five years later, U.S. players will once again have access to the game on their iPhones.
Following the court's decision, Sweeney celebrated the ruling, stating, "NO FEES on web transactions. Game over for the Apple Tax." He emphasized that Apple's fees are now as defunct in the U.S. as they are in Europe under the Digital Markets Act, deeming them unlawful in both regions.
Apple's non-compliance with the court order has led to further legal consequences. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has referred Apple and its vice president of finance, Alex Roman, to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt investigation, citing misleading testimony and outright lies during the case. Apple, in response, expressed strong disagreement with the decision but stated it would comply while planning to appeal.
Epic's legal victories have been primarily in Europe, where the Epic Games Store launched on iPhones and Android devices last August, featuring games like Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys. However, Epic has faced challenges with user adoption due to "scare screens" deterring up to 50% of potential users.
Despite the financial strain and significant layoffs, including 830 employees from the North Carolina studio in September 2023, Sweeney remains optimistic about Epic's financial health. He reported in October last year that both Fortnite and the Epic Games Store were achieving new records in concurrency and success, signaling a robust future for the company.
Epic's Tim Sweeney is determined to defeat Apple and Google, however long it takes. Photo by SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg.
Fortnite is finally set to return to iPhones in the U.S., nearly five years after the game was pulled. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images.
