Fortnite is once again available on the App Store, with Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney declaring this marks the start of the end of Apple’s global fees. Sweeney has been engaged in a protracted battle to restore Fortnite to iPhones and Android devices without paying store fees. Epic Games refuses to pay the standard 30% fee on revenue from mobile games. Instead, it wants to direct players to its own mobile store, the Epic Games Store, without interference from Apple and Google. This dispute began in 2020, and despite significant legal progress, Apple previously blocked Fortnite’s return to the App Store.
Now, Epic has successfully brought Fortnite back to iOS. Sweeney announced this decision followed Apple telling the U.S. Supreme Court that “regulators around the world are watching this case to determine what commission rate Apple may charge on covered purchases in huge markets outside the United States.” Epic Games expressed confidence, stating, “We are confident that once Apple is forced to show its costs, governments around the world will not allow Apple junk fees to stand.”
Epic Games also said, “We will continue to challenge Apple’s anticompetitive App Store practices of banning alternative app stores and competition in payments,” in a statement. The company noted, “We’ve seen momentum around the world to address these practices, with regulators passing laws in Japan, the European Union and the United Kingdom. But time and time again, Apple has evaded the laws with scare screens, fees and onerous requirements. It’s time for regulators to truly enforce the laws so developers and consumers around the world can benefit from an open and fair mobile app ecosystem.”
earlier today. He said, “Fortnite is back on the Apple App Store as we head into the final battle of Epic v Apple in court. For years, Apple has fragmented iOS features and fees by territory, taking regulatory negotiating positions in secret, and intentionally delaying the pursuit of justice. Apple has now told the Supreme Court, ‘Regulators around the world are watching this case to determine what commission rate Apple may charge on covered purchases in huge markets outside the United States.’ So we see this as the beginning of the end of the Apple Tax worldwide.”
Sweeney continued, “This is a critical moment in the battle against the App Store empire to win freedom for all developers and consumers, and we’ll continue the fight in every jurisdiction worldwide until competition is restored to digital stores and payment markets everywhere.”
Interestingly, Fortnite has yet to return to the Australian App Store. Epic said it was waiting for a court order to “bring Apple’s unlawful conduct to an end and to make orders that will benefit all app developers and iOS users.” The company added, “Epic can’t return under an illegal payment arrangement with Apple, so unless Apple agrees to adopt lawful payment terms in the interim, we must wait for a Court decision.”
Fortnite’s return to iOS comes at a challenging time for the once-dominant battle royale game. Epic Games underwent significant layoffs in March due to a decline in interest in Fortnite. Analysts told IGN that the drop in players is just one of the game’s issues. The company has also spent considerable time and money on legal battles with Apple and Google, while funding the Epic Games Store to rival Steam. Additionally, the meteoric rise of Roblox, which surpasses the engagement seen in Fortnite’s creator-made modes, poses a significant challenge.
Epic boss Tim Sweeney has returned Fortnite to iOS. Image credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Samsung.
