Fortnite Makes a Comeback to the US App Store After Five Years

21.05.2025

Fortnite has officially returned to the U.S. App Store, marking the end of a five-year absence that began with a high-profile legal dispute between Epic Games and Apple. The conflict started in 2020 when Epic introduced a direct payment option in Fortnite, bypassing Apple’s in-app purchase system and offering users a 20% discount. In response, Apple removed the game from the App Store, prompting Epic to file a lawsuit.

The legal battle culminated in a judge ruling that Apple had willfully violated antitrust laws by restricting developers from offering alternative payment options. The court mandated that Apple must allow developers to process payments outside the App Store without incurring additional fees, a decision that significantly shifted the power dynamics in mobile app distribution.

Following the ruling, Epic attempted to reintroduce Fortnite to the App Store but encountered delays. The company accused Apple of intentionally stalling the approval process in both the U.S. and EU. This led to further legal pressure, with U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers demanding that Apple either approve Epic’s submission or provide a valid legal justification for blocking it.

Epic has since confirmed that Fortnite is now not only back on the U.S. App Store but also available in the European Union via the Epic Games Store and AltStore. The game is expected to appear in App Store search results soon, making it accessible once again to millions of players.

The newly available version of Fortnite includes a 20% cashback incentive for users who purchase in-game items directly through Epic, instead of using Apple’s in-app payment system — continuing Epic’s push for greater control over its revenue streams and challenging Apple’s long-standing commission model.