Epic's Fortnite to Re-Enter U.S. iPhone Market After Court Victory

Fortnite will relaunch on the U.S. iOS App Store and iPhones next week following a pivotal court decision, according to Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney.

On April 30, a California U.S. Federal District Court ruled that Apple intentionally breached a court order in the Epic Games v. Apple case, mandating Apple to allow developers to offer alternative payment methods outside apps.

In a post on X, Sweeney proposed a “peace plan” to Apple, with whom Epic has been in legal conflict for years. “If Apple applies the court’s frictionless, tax-free framework globally, we’ll bring Fortnite back to the App Store worldwide and halt all current and future lawsuits on this issue,” Sweeney stated.

In January, IGN detailed how Sweeney invested billions in Epic’s fight against Apple and Google over their app store policies. Sweeney told IGN this was a strategic long-term investment in Epic and Fortnite’s future, asserting the company could sustain the battle for decades.

Sweeney’s persistent effort to restore Fortnite on iPhones and Android devices without paying store fees is widely known. Epic aims to avoid the standard 30% store fees on mobile game revenue, preferring to operate Fortnite through its own Epic Games Store, bypassing Apple and Google’s profit cuts. This conflict led to Fortnite’s removal from iOS in 2020.

Now, nearly five years later, Fortnite is poised to return to U.S. iPhones.

In another post, Sweeney celebrated the court ruling: “No fees on web transactions. The Apple Tax is finished.

“Apple’s 15-30% excessive fees are now as invalid in the United States as they are in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. Unlawful here, unlawful there.”

Apple now faces referral to federal prosecutors for violating the U.S. court order. “Apple’s ongoing efforts to stifle competition are unacceptable,” said U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. “This is an injunction, not a discussion. There are no second chances for willfully ignoring a court order.”

Judge Gonzalez Rogers also referred Apple and its vice president of finance, Alex Roman, to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt investigation, citing Roman’s testimony as “filled with misdirection and blatant falsehoods.”

Apple responded, stating, “We strongly disagree with the ruling. We will comply with the court’s order and pursue an appeal.”

After numerous costly legal battles, Epic has achieved significant progress, previously securing victories mainly in Europe through the Digital Markets Act.

Last August, the Epic Games Store launched on iPhones in the European Union and Android devices globally, featuring Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys for mobile. However, Epic notes that mobile deployment remains challenging, with “scare screens” deterring up to 50% of users.

Amid these efforts, Epic faced substantial layoffs. In September 2023, the North Carolina studio cut 830 employees, roughly 16% of its workforce. In October, Sweeney emphasized the company’s “financial stability,” noting record-breaking concurrency and success for both Fortnite and the Epic Games Store.