Fortnite returns to App Store as Apple trial enters 'Final Battle'

Fortnite is back on the iOS App Store in several regions after Epic Games stated that its long legal dispute with Apple is in the “final battle” phase. The Fortnite The developer said the game has returned to the App Store out of confidence that Apple will need to be more transparent about the fees it charges on its storefront going forward.

Apple and Epic Games have been in a long-running legal dispute since 2020, when Apple withdrew Fortnite from the App Store. The dispute arose over Epic allowing external payment options for Fortnite which would undercut the App Store's fees. Epic stated that Apple's fees violated US antitrust laws. Despite its best efforts, Apple was subsequently ordered to allow third-party app stores to be available in select regions. Although Apple still found ways to take its cut from third-party payment providers and app stores, Apple's fee structure was found in contempt by the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

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Fortnite's “Final Battle” with the Apple approach

Even if Fortnite has been available on Apple devices in the US for nearly a year, Epic Games stated it was ready to bring it back Fortnite to more Apple devices worldwide. Epic Games confirmed it in a blog post on May 19 Fortnite is once again available in more territories for players to download on their iOS powered devices. Epic added that the “final battle” with Apple was close at hand after six years of legal exchanges between the two companies. Epic's decision to bring Fortnite's iOS version back to more nations came just weeks after US Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan denied Apple's request to stay the Ninth Circuit's contempt order. After Kagan's refusal, Apple said: “Regulators around the world are looking at this case to determine what commission Apple can charge on covered purchases in huge markets outside the United States.”

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Epic Games said momentum was building in Japan, the UK and the EU to hold Apple accountable for the fees it charged third-party developers. Epic said so though Fortnite has not returned to the Australian App Store at the time of writing. While Epic has claimed legal victories over Apple, the company stated that Apple has continued to enforce its fees for third-party apps despite being told not to. Epic therefore stated that it would have to wait for a court order that would force Apple to comply with Australia's decision against it. It remains to be seen when Australian users will once again be able to download and install Fortnite on the iOS App Store.

Girl runs away with rocket launcher in Fortnite

The return of Fortnite to more iOS devices worldwide came amid a busy time for Epic Games. At the time of this writing, Fortnite is hosting a crossover event with Blizzard's Monitoring. Crossover is part of Fortnites ongoing third act of chapter 7 season 2. Fortnite players have until June 4th to participate in the event, with skins off Monitoring characters Tracer, Genji, Mercy and D.Va can be purchased with V-Bucks.

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Despite the ongoing crossover with Blizzards Monitoringpublic scrutiny of Epic Games' mass layoffs in March still lingered. Although Epic Games remained confident in its ongoing legal battle with Apple, time will tell when it will reach a conclusive conclusion.