Fortnite Returns to U.S. App Store After Legal Battle With Apple

Fortnite is back on the U.S. App Store nearly five years after being booted for offering a direct payment option that didn't give the company a 30% cut.

The popular battle royale game's reappearance follows a significant federal court ruling on April 30, 2025, where Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found Apple in "willful violation" of a 2021 injunction concerning its App Store practices. The court stated that Apple's "continued attempts to interfere with competition will not be tolerated."

As a result of the ruling, Apple faced new, stricter permanent restrictions. These immediately barred Apple from imposing any commission or fee on purchases consumers make outside an app via external links. The company was also prohibited from restricting developers' link style, language, formatting, placement, or use of buttons and other calls to action for these external purchases. Furthermore, Apple cannot require the use of static URLs or the previously implemented "scare screen," mandating only a neutral notification.




Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney welcomed the decision, posting on X: "NO FEES on web transactions. Game over for the Apple Tax." Soon after, Sweeney announced plans to bring Fortnite back to the U.S. App Store the following week.

Apple said it would comply with the court's order but intended to appeal. On May 1, 2025, the company updated its App Review Guidelines for the U.S. App Store, removing the requirement for special entitlements to include external links.

Epic submitted a compliant version of Fortnite for review on May 9. The updated build reportedly included both Apple's In-App Purchase system and a direct purchase option on Epic's website. But on May 15, Apple told Epic it "has determined not to take action on the Fortnite app submission until after the Ninth Circuit rules on [Apple's] pending request for a partial stay of the new injunction."


Epic Games quickly responded by filing a "Motion to Enforce Injunction" on May 16 (Case 4:20-cv-05640-YGR, Document 1568). In its motion, Epic argued Apple's refusal was a "clear violation of the Injunction" and "blatant retaliation." The company pointed out that while Apple claims to review 90% of app submissions within 24 hours, Fortnite was left in limbo for five days before Apple's formal refusal.

The dispute escalated on May 19, when Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers issued an "Order to Show Cause". The order questioned Apple's legal authority to ignore the court's injunction and noted that Apple's request for a stay from the Ninth Circuit had been filed twelve days prior on May 7. Judge Rogers stated, "Obviously, Apple is fully capable of resolving this issue without further briefing or a hearing." She scheduled a hearing for May 27, 2025, and required an Apple official "personally responsible for ensuring compliance" to appear.

On May 20, 2025, Apple reversed its stance and approved Fortnite for the U.S. App Store.

Fortnite is back! Be the last player standing in Battle Royale, OG and Zero Build, carry your squad to victory in fast-paced Reload, build your own adventures in LEGO Fortnite, or headline a concert in Fortnite Festival — it's all here.

In a post on X, Sweeney thanked everyone who supported the company's efforts to force Apple to open up the App Store.

"Thanks to everyone who supported the effort to open up mobile competition and #FreeFortnite from the very beginning. And thanks to all of the folks who initially sided with Apple then later came around to the winning side, supporting app developer rights and consumer rights."

The game is now available for download at the link below...

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