Epic's Fortnite to Re-Enter U.S. iPhone Market After Court Victory

Fortnite is poised to make a comeback on the U.S. iOS App Store and iPhones next week following a pivotal court decision, according to Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney.

On April 30, a California federal court ruled that Apple deliberately breached a prior court order in the Epic Games v. Apple case, mandating that Apple allow developers to offer alternative payment options outside of apps.

In a post on X, Sweeney proposed a “peace plan” to Apple, with whom Epic has been in legal conflict for years. “If Apple extends the court’s seamless, tax-free framework globally, we’ll bring Fortnite back to the App Store worldwide and halt all current and future lawsuits on this issue,” Sweeney stated.

In January, IGN detailed how Sweeney invested billions in Epic’s fight against Apple and Google over their app store policies. Sweeney described it as a long-term strategy for Epic and Fortnite’s future, asserting that Epic could sustain the battle for decades.

Sweeney’s persistent campaign to restore Fortnite to iPhones and Android devices without paying store fees is well-known. Epic aims to bypass the standard 30% app store commission by operating Fortnite through its own Epic Games Store, free from Apple and Google’s interference and profit cuts. This dispute led to Fortnite’s removal from iOS in 2020.

Now, nearly five years later, Fortnite is set to return to U.S. iPhones.

In another post, Sweeney celebrated the ruling: “No fees on web transactions. The Apple Tax is finished.”

“Apple’s 15-30% fees are now as invalid in the U.S. as they are in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. Unlawful here, unlawful there.”

Apple now faces a referral to federal prosecutors for violating the court order. “Apple’s ongoing efforts to stifle competition will not be tolerated,” said U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. “This is an injunction, not a negotiation. There are no second chances for willfully ignoring a court order.”

Judge Gonzalez Rogers also referred Apple and its finance vice president, Alex Roman, to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt probe, citing Roman’s testimony as “filled with misdirection and outright falsehoods.”

Apple responded, saying, “We strongly disagree with the ruling. We will comply with the court’s order and plan to appeal.”

After numerous expensive legal battles, Epic has achieved significant progress, previously limited mostly to Europe through the Digital Markets Act.

Last August, the Epic Games Store launched on iPhones in the EU and Android globally, featuring Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys for mobile. However, Epic noted that “scare screens” deter up to 50% of users from installing these games on mobile devices.

Amid these efforts, Epic faced substantial layoffs. In September 2023, the North Carolina-based studio cut 830 employees, roughly 16% of its workforce. In October, Sweeney emphasized that the company was now “financially stable,” with Fortnite and the Epic Games Store achieving new highs in user engagement and success.