Fortnite Returns to Apple’s App Store in the US After Nearly Five-Year Ban
Fortnite is officially back on the Apple App Store in the US, marking a major moment in the ongoing battle between tech giants and app developers over platform control and in-app payments.
The wildly popular game was removed in August 2020 after its creator, Epic Games, implemented its own in-app payment system bypassing Apple’s 30% commission fee. The move violated Apple’s policies and sparked a high-profile legal fight, with Epic accusing Apple of monopolistic practices.
Now, nearly five years later, Fortnite has returned to Apple’s storefront in the US. The game is also available on the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the European Union, where recent regulatory changes have opened the market for alternative app stores.
“It will show up on Search soon!” Fortnite posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Apple has yet to comment on the reappearance, but has long maintained that its policies are designed to protect user security.
A Legal Victory for Epic?
This return is widely being viewed as a win for Epic Games. Joost van Dreunen, a professor at NYU Stern, noted:
“This is a clear win for Epic. They’ve forced open a door that Apple and others worked hard to keep shut. It’s a shift in power that gives developers more leverage to challenge gatekeeping in app distribution.”
The reentry follows a brief global outage last week when Fortnite updates were reportedly blocked by Apple. The title had already returned to the EU App Store in January, thanks to new legislation promoting digital competition.
Meanwhile, Google, which also removed Fortnite in 2020 over similar payment issues, lifted its ban last year.
Fortnite’s Enduring Popularity
With over 400 million registered players, Fortnite remains one of the most influential games in the world. While it offers several game modes, its flagship battle royale mode where 100 players fight to be the last one standing continues to draw millions of fans.
The return of Fortnite to the App Store isn’t just a win for gamers it’s a pivotal moment in the ongoing fight over app store fairness, competition, and the future of digital distribution.
