Fortnite Set for US iOS Return After Landmark Court Ruling
Fortnite will make its return to the U.S. iOS App Store following a pivotal court decision, according to Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney. The development comes after years of legal battles between Epic and Apple concerning app store policies.
On April 30, a U.S. Federal District Court in California ruled that Apple willfully violated a previous court order from the Epic Games v. Apple case. The injunction required Apple to allow developers to offer alternative payment options outside its app ecosystem.
Sweeney extended a "peace proposal" to Apple, stating: "If Apple extends the court's friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide, we'll return Fortnite to the App Store globally and drop all current and future litigation on this matter."
This follows IGN's January report detailing Sweeney's multi-billion dollar campaign against Apple and Google's app store policies, which he framed as a strategic investment in Epic's future. The executive previously told IGN that Epic could sustain this legal fight for decades.
The Core of the Dispute
The conflict stems from Epic's refusal to pay standard 30% platform fees on mobile game revenue. The company seeks to distribute Fortnite through its proprietary Epic Games Store without Apple and Google's revenue-sharing requirements. This standoff led to Fortnite's iOS removal in 2020.
After nearly five years, Fortnite is poised for its U.S. iOS comeback following this recent legal victory.
Sweeney celebrated the ruling on social media: "NO FEES on web transactions. Game over for the Apple Tax. These 15-30% junk fees are now unlawful in the U.S., just as they are in Europe under the Digital Markets Act."
Legal Consequences for Apple
U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers referred Apple and finance executive Alex Roman for criminal contempt investigation, citing "replete with misdirection and outright lies" in their compliance testimony. The judge stated: "This is an injunction, not a negotiation," emphasizing serious consequences for violating court orders.
Apple responded: "We strongly disagree with the decision. We will comply with the court's order and we will appeal."
Epic's Ongoing Challenges
While achieving major progress in the U.S., Epic continues facing implementation hurdles. The company reports "scare screens" could deter up to 50% of potential users from their mobile store offerings.
The legal battles have extracted significant costs - including September 2023 layoffs affecting 830 employees (16% of staff). However, Sweeney maintains the company is financially stable, citing record performance for Fortnite and the Epic Games Store.
