Fortnite will be back on iOS in the US next week as Epic Games gets big win in legal dispute with Apple
Epic Games and Apple have been in a legal battle since 2020 when Apple removed the Epic Games store from the App Store. This also booted popular battle royale Fortnite from the hands of iPhone and iPad users. But now, as per the ruling on April 30, Fortnite is allowed to return to iOS as the judge preceding over the case has ruled in favor of Epic Games. Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games shared details on X citing the Digital Markets Act.
Fortnite was removed from the App Store because Epic Games allowed for direct payments for in-app purchases which would bypass Apple’s 30% cut. The games store then filed a case against the Cupertino giant for forcing developers to be confined to the rules of the App Store when publishing content for iOS users. Then in 2021, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled in favor of Epic Games stating Apple cannot prevent developers from adding external links, but Fortnite still did not return to the platform.
Now, the April 30 ruling states Apple is in “willful violation” of the 2021 injunction and that the court will not tolerate such insubordination. “For this Court, there is no second bite at the apple,” Rogers added.
Sweeney took to X and announced that following the ruling, Fortnite will return to the App Store next week (May 5 to May 12), along with a peace proposal, “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.” It took four years, four months, and 17 days but its “Game over for the Apple tax,” Sweeney said.
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