Fortnite has made a triumphant return to the U.S. App Store after a prolonged legal battle between its creator, Epic Games, and tech giant Apple. As of Tuesday, players in the EU can also find the game on the Epic Games Store and AltStore, with appearances in App Store searches expected shortly, according to an update from Epic.
The saga began in 2020 when Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store. The issue arose because Epic introduced a way for players to buy in-game items using Epic’s virtual currency, which came with a 20% discount. This move prompted Epic to sue Apple, accusing it of anticompetitive behavior.
The legal journey took a significant turn when a judge ruled in favor of Epic, stating that Apple willfully violated rules against unfair pricing practices. The judge’s decision also mandated that Apple must allow developers to process payments outside the App Store and cannot impose its fees on these transactions.
Despite this verdict, Fortnite faced delays in getting back onto the App Store, with Epic claiming that Apple was blocking its efforts in both the U.S. and EU markets.
In a critical development, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers recently instructed Apple to either approve Epic’s app submission or provide a valid legal reason for rejecting it. This directive appears to have favored Epic, enabling Fortnite’s return.
The newly available version of Fortnite on the App Store continues to offer players the same 20% cashback for in-game purchases made directly through Epic, bypassing Apple’s in-app purchase system. This move underscores Epic’s commitment to maintaining competitive pricing for its users.
