Fortnite returns to U.S. App Store after years-long legal showdown

After nearly four years of absence, Fortnite has made its way back onto the iOS App Store in the United States. The return follows mounting legal pressure on Apple to comply with a federal court ruling related to app marketplace policies.

The move marks a major shift in the long-running standoff between Apple and Epic Games, which began in 2020 when Epic introduced an alternative payment method in Fortnite, violating App Store guidelines. That action prompted Apple to remove the game entirely, sparking a high-profile legal battle that’s continued ever since.

Tensions escalated again this week, as the judge overseeing the case warned Apple that further resistance could bring serious consequences—including compelling the company’s app review head to testify in person. In response, Apple abruptly reversed course and approved Fortnite’s return.

U.S. players can now download Fortnite directly from the App Store, but with some key differences. The game no longer includes in-app purchases through Apple’s payment system. Instead, players are redirected to Epic’s website for all transactions—one of the central issues at the heart of the legal dispute.

Meanwhile, Fortnite remains available in the European Union through the Epic Games Store, which is operating as an independent app marketplace under the region’s new digital competition laws. Apple is still in the process of appealing the U.S. court’s decision that forced changes to its developer policies, meaning the story is far from over.

For now, though, the long-awaited return of Fortnite to the iPhone marks a notable win for Epic—and a rare retreat from Apple in its tightly controlled app ecosystem.