Fortnite is back on Apple’s App Store globally, except in Australia, as US federal courts are expected to force Apple to reveal its fee structure.
Epic Games relaunched Fortnite after Apple informed the US Supreme Court that global regulators are closely monitoring the case to determine Apple’s commission rates on purchases in major markets outside the US.
Epic mentioned that governments worldwide will not allow what it calls “Apple junk fees” to persist once Apple discloses its fees.
The legal battle between Epic and Apple began in 2020 when Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store for allegedly avoiding platform fees.
Although Fortnite remains unavailable on iOS in Australia, Epic partially won a court case there that deemed many of Apple’s developer terms unlawful.
Epic stated that Fortnite’s return to iOS in Australia is hindered by what it calls an “illegal payment arrangement with Apple.”
The game’s return will be postponed until a court ruling is made unless Apple agrees to implement “lawful payment terms” first.
“We will continue to challenge Apple’s anti-competitive practices in the App Store, including the ban on alternative app stores and payment competition,” said Epic.
“There is a growing movement globally to address these practices, with regulations being enacted in Japan, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. However, Apple has managed to circumvent these laws with deterrent tactics, fees, and stringent requirements. It is time for regulators to enforce the laws effectively so that developers and consumers worldwide can benefit from an open and fair mobile app ecosystem.”
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney remarked, “As Fortnite returns to the Apple App Store, we are gearing up for the final battle of Epic v Apple in court. For years, Apple has imposed varying iOS features and fees by region, conducting regulatory negotiations in secret and deliberately delaying justice.”
“This moment is crucial in challenging the dominance of the App Store to secure freedom for all developers and consumers. We will persist in the fight across all jurisdictions until competition is reinstated in digital stores and payment markets globally.”
The Epic Games Store was introduced in Japan earlier this month following the enactment of the Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA).
The store was made available to EU users on iOS in September 2024 and was relaunched in the US after a district court ruled that Apple could not levy fees on app purchases made outside the App Store.