Fortnite is back on iPhones in US after court orders Apple to relax app payment regulations

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Almost five years since it was removed, Fortnite has officially returned to Apple's iPhone and iPad App Store in the United States, a spectacular win for Epic Games in its long fight against Apple's app store policies. The game's return comes after a federal court last month ordered Apple to permit app developers to provide alternative payment methods— undermining the tech giant's highly profitable 30% commission on in-app transactions, the Washington Post reported.

The decision by US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers gives developers greater authority over digital transactions, such that games like Fortnite can make direct payments for virtual items without having to go through Apple's system. Within a day of its return, Fortnite topped Apple's free game listings, as users flocked to download the game that became a cultural phenomenon before its suspension.

A financial and symbolic blow to Apple

The comeback of Fortnite isn't solely a victory for gamers—it's a big legal and symbolic loss for Apple, whose closely managed app environment has been under growing scrutiny. "Thanks to everyone who supported the effort to open up mobile competition," Epic CEO Tim Sweeney wrote on X. He also fired a shot at folks who originally supported Apple, saying they had "come around to the winning side."

In 2020, Epic initiated its legal battle by wilfully breaking Apple and Google's app store guidelines, implementing its own payment system in Fortnite to skirt platform charges. The action resulted in the game being removed from the two platforms and ignited lawsuits that tested the underpinnings of app marketplace economics.

Epic has estimated that being blocked from iPhones lost the firm in excess of $1 billion in business. The legal struggle alone has already cost Epic over $100 million in fees, says Sweeney. Legal uncertainties persist

Though Fortnite is once again available on iOS, its future is not guaranteed. Apple is appealing the ruling of the judge and requested a stay on the order, claiming that doing so would induce "grave, irreparable harm" on its business. If granted, Apple's request could see Fortnite again vanish from the App Store.

The case has implications far beyond Epic. Other firms including Spotify, Patreon, and Amazon's Kindle and Audible have also recently changed their iPhone apps to capitalize on the new freedom to provide other payment options. Similar to Epic, they would also be affected in the event that Apple's appeal prevails.

While on Android, Fortnite is still prohibited from the Google Play Store, although it continues to be installable directly from Epic's website or otherwise.

A more general shakeup in mobile app markets

The return of Fortnite represents a possible turning point for the way digital marketplaces function, particularly as courts and regulators across the globe increasingly push back against Apple's and Google's grip. The precedent established by Judge Gonzalez Rogers has the potential to remake the mobile economy, particularly if other courts and jurisdictions do the same.

However, until the appeals process unfolds, the result is uncertain. For the time being, Fortnite enthusiasts in the US have their game back—and Epic has its moment of triumph. But in the cutthroat realm of app store politics, even major wins can be short-lived.