Introduction Of Fortnite
Fortnite is officially back on the U.S. App Store, marking the end of a five-year standoff between Epic Games and Apple. The popular battle royale game was removed back in 2020, sparking a high-profile legal battle that’s reshaped how app stores operate.
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The removal happened after Epic snuck in a workaround that let players buy in-game currency directly from the company—bypassing Apple’s in-app purchase system and offering users a 20% discount. Apple wasn’t having it and booted It from the App Store, triggering a lawsuit from Epic that turned into a lengthy court fight over antitrust practices and developer rights.
Fast forward to now: a federal judge recently ruled that Apple had willfully violated competition laws by not allowing alternative payment methods. The court ordered Apple to let developers link to external payment options—and barred it from collecting fees on those outside purchases. That ruling opened the door for Epic to bring Fortnite back.
Even so, Epic hit another snag when Apple delayed approving the game’s return. Epic claimed Apple was dragging its feet on purpose—especially in the EU, where Epic is also rolling out Fortnite via the Epic Games Store and the AltStore. Things shifted earlier this week when U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers stepped in, telling Apple to either approve Epic’s submission or explain—legally—why it couldn’t.
Now that Fortnite is finally live again in the App Store, players can expect one big change: if you buy in-game items directly through Epic (instead of Apple’s system), you’ll get 20% cashback. It’s a clear push from Epic to steer purchases away from Apple’s ecosystem and back under its own roof.
After years of legal wrangling, Fortnite’s return is more than just a win for gamers—it’s a major moment in the ongoing fight over who controls the rules of mobile app marketplaces.
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