Fortnite to Return to US iPhones After 5 Years: Epic CEO

Fortnite is making its comeback to iPhones in the U.S. after a major court decision, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced.

On April 30, a California federal court ruled Apple deliberately violated a court mandate from the Epic Games v. Apple case, which required the tech giant to allow alternative payment options outside its App Store ecosystem.

Sweeney extended an olive branch to Apple via Twitter, proposing: "If Apple applies the court's no-fee, no-tax structure globally, we'll bring Fortnite back to the App Store worldwide and end all related current and future lawsuits."

Earlier this year, IGN covered Sweeney's billion-dollar crusade against Apple and Google's app store policies. The Epic CEO framed this as a strategic investment in Fortnite's future, vowing to continue the fight for decades if necessary.

The heart of this years-long conflict lies in Epic's refusal to pay the standard 30% platform fees. The company wants to distribute Fortnite through its own Epic Games Store on mobile devices without Apple and Google taking substantial cuts. This dispute first erupted in 2020 when Fortnite was removed from iOS.

After nearly five years, American iPhone users will soon be able to play Fortnite again through official channels.

Sweeney celebrated the court victory on social media: "Web transactions now fee-free. The Apple Tax era has ended in America, just like in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. Their 15-30% fees stand defeated on both continents."

The court found Apple in contempt for ignoring its previous orders. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers condemned Apple's behavior, stating: "This isn't a negotiation - it's an injunction. Companies can't willfully disregard judicial rulings and expect second chances."

The judge referred Apple and one of its finance executives for potential criminal contempt charges, citing deceptive testimony about compliance efforts.

Apple maintains its disagreement with the ruling, stating: "We intend to appeal while complying with the court's orders."

While Epic previously achieved success mainly in Europe through the Digital Markets Act, this U.S. ruling represents a significant breakthrough. Last August, the Epic Games Store launched in the EU with Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys mobile versions, though distribution hurdles remain challenging.

The legal battles have taken their toll - Epic laid off 830 employees (16% of staff) in September 2023. By October, Sweeney assured the company had stabilized financially, with both Fortnite and the Epic Games Store achieving record performance metrics.