Fortnite’s Triumphant Return to iOS: A Victory Lap After Epic Games’ Legal Battle with Apple
The battle royale phenomenon Fortnite is poised to make a grand return to iOS devices, marking the end of a nearly five-year absence. This comeback follows a significant legal victory for Epic Games against Apple, paving the way for Fortnite to be available on the App Store under more favorable terms. The impending return has ignited excitement among fans eagerly awaiting the chance to once again play Fortnite on their iPhones and iPads.
Epic Games officially submitted Fortnite to the US Apple App Store, hoping to make it available for download soon. The move comes after a judge ruled that Apple must cease collecting fees for purchases made outside of the App Store. This victory was celebrated by Epic, who announced Fortnite’s imminent return and unveiled changes to its sales platform aimed at benefiting developers and publishers.
One such change is Epic's decision to waive commissions for the first $1,000,000 in revenue from an app per year, a move applauded by many in the developer community. Furthermore, Epic is creating standalone webshops, powered by the Epic Games Store, to offer developers another avenue to avoid Apple's App Store fees. This will allow "out-of-app purchases, as a more cost-effective alternative to in-app purchases," as well as a higher rate of Epic Rewards when using its proprietary payment system.
However, the road to Fortnite's return hasn't been without bumps. Apple has appealed the ruling and filed an emergency motion to put a pause on changes to the App Store's operation and fee collection. Epic responded to this move, calling it a "last ditch effort to block competition and extract massive junk fees at the expense of consumers and developers." This legal volley underscores the ongoing tension between the two tech giants.
In anticipation of the return, developers like Amazon and Spotify have already updated their apps to navigate around Apple’s commission structure, directing users to their own websites for payments. Prior to a recent update, Amazon's Kindle app prevented users from making book purchases within the iPhone app; now, an orange "Get Book" button redirects users to Amazon’s website.
It should be noted that Fortnite has been available for iPhones in Europe since last year via the Epic Games store, leveraging the regulations under the Digital Markets Act. Additionally, users have been able to access Fortnite on iPhones and iPads through cloud gaming services.
While the exact date of Fortnite's re-emergence is still unclear, Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, confirmed that the game would return to iOS devices sometime within the week of early May. As the moment draws near, the gaming community eagerly anticipates the opportunity to drop back into Fortnite on their preferred mobile devices.
Are you excited for Fortnite to return to iOS? What implications does Epic's victory have for the future of app store economics? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
Related issues news
Is Fortnite mobile back?
Fortnite is back on the App Store, Epic Rewards boosted to 20%, and more!
Is Fortnite on Apple?
Fortnite was booted from iPhones and Apple's App Store in 2020, after Epic Games updated its software to link out to the company's website and avoid Apple's commissions. The move drew Apple's anger, and kicked off a legal battle that has lasted for years.
When is Fortnite coming to mobile?
In 2018, Epic Games introduced Fortnite to mobile platforms, distributing it through Google Play and the Apple App Store.
When does Fortnite return to iOS?
After legal battles, Fortnite will return to iOS in 2025 under improved terms.
