Fortnite is finally back in the U.S. iOS App Store after five long Fortnite-less years. Apple approved the return of Epic Games' popular battle royale on Tuesday, enabling U.S. iPhone users to join the battlefield for the first time since 2020.
Epic Games initially announced that it had submitted Fortnite to Apple for review on May 9, hoping that the game would soon be reinstated to iPhone. In typical circumstances, Apple states that it reviews the majority of apps within 24 hours. Even so, it isn't surprising that this particular review took longer considering the publicly hostile relationship it has with Epic Games.
The situation appeared unfavourable last week, when Epic Games claimed that Apple had blocked its submission to return to the U.S. App Store. Apple did not comment on these claims at the time.
Fortunately for U.S. Fortnite fans, such alleged issues seem to have been worked out now, with Apple's review apparently resolved in Epic Games' favour. As of May 20, Fortnite is now available for download on iOS once more, the version history in its App Store listing merely reading, "Fortnite is Back!"
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Fortnite's return to iOS is just the latest development in Apple and Epic Games' bitter antitrust feud, which has been ongoing for five years. Specifically, Epic Games takes issue with Apple prohibiting in-app payment processing methods other than Apple Pay, as well as charging a 30 percent commission on in-app purchases.
This discord erupted in 2020, when Epic Games introduced a way for players to purchase Fortnite's in-game currency directly from them, bypassing Apple entirely. In response, the tech giant booted Fortnight from its platform, citing violation of Apple's App Store guidelines. Epic Games then filed a lawsuit, making their dispute official.
So far, it seems as though Epic Games has gained the upper hand in this battle. In 2021, a federal court ruled that Apple could not prohibit iOS apps from linking away from the App Store (though it also ruled that Epic Games was in breach of contract, and owed Apple the 30 percent commission). Then last month, the judge found that Apple intentionally violated a court order prohibiting anti-competitive conduct, tearing into the company and referring it for an investigation of criminal contempt.
Now with Fortnite back on iOS, it certainly looks as though Apple is coming out worse off in this fight so far.
