Photo credit: AppFigures
Epic Games and Apple have been slugging it out since August 2020, when Fortnite got the boot from the App Store in a dramatic showdown. The spark? Epic slipped in a direct payment system for Fortnite’s V-Bucks, dodging Apple’s 30% cut on in-app purchases. Apple slammed back by booting Fortnite and banning Epic’s U.S. developer account, prompting Epic’s lawsuit accusing the App Store of monopoly antics, and while Apple mostly won the 2021 ruling, a judge’s order to allow external payment links cracked open its tight control.
In April 2025, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled Apple in “willful violation” of the 2021 injunction, slamming the company for stifling alternative payment methods. This ruling was the green light Epic needed. On May 9, Epic submitted Fortnite for App Store review, using its Swedish subsidiary’s account. Apple dragged its feet, but Epic’s May 16 motion and Judge Rogers’ threat to summon Apple’s compliance officer forced action. On May 20, Fortnite returned to U.S. iPhones and iPads, also appearing on the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the EU. CEO Tim Sweeney celebrated on X: “we back fam.”
Fortnite’s return isn’t just a comeback; it’s a cultural juggernaut reborn. With 116 million iOS players before its 2020 ban, the game’s vibrant world of virtual gunfights and dance emotes captured a generation. Fortnite’s absence left a gap, with PUBG Mobile and Garena Free Fire stepping in. Now, Fortnite’s back, offering Apple’s in-app purchases alongside Epic’s own payment system, sweetened with 20% Epic Rewards for using Epic’s checkout. The game shot to the App Store’s #1 spot in hours, downloads surging like a rocket.
Epic Games’ gutsy move to yank Fortnite from the App Store and challenge Apple’s iron grip paid off, with the EU’s Digital Markets Act paving the way for the game’s 2024 European return, forcing Apple to loosen its global App Store rules. Apple’s still fighting the ruling, and with spotty global access, this drama’s far from over. Epic accused Apple of “blatant retaliation” for blocking earlier submissions, but for now, players are flocking back.
Fortnite’s return signals a broader shift. Developers now have leverage to challenge platform gatekeepers, as NYU Stern’s Joost van Dreunen noted: “Epic has forced open a door Apple worked hard to keep shut.” Spotify and Amazon Kindle are following suit with external payment links. For gamers, Fortnite’s back, optimized for modern iPhones, with no fees on external purchases and new esports potential. Apple’s appeal looms, but Fortnite’s triumph is a beacon for change in the app ecosystem.
