The idea of Fortnite on iPhone once more, returning to the United States iOS App Store, was something most players had stopped believing in years ago. It's finally happening.
When Epic Games was ousted in 2020 for avoiding Apple's in-app payment system, it led to a drawn-out legal struggle that looked like it would drag on forever.
A recent court ruling not only cleared the way for Fortnite's return but also accused Apple of violating a previous legal order and set the stage for possible contempt charges.
The main problem was Apple's control over how apps made money. When Epic enabled its own payment system in Fortnite, Apple quickly responded by removing the game and cutting off Epic's developer access.
Epic fired back with an antitrust lawsuit, claiming Apple was abusing its power by taking a 30% cut of all in-app purchases and banning developers from offering other ways to pay.
For a time, it looked like Apple was ahead, but things shifted in April 2025 when Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple had knowingly breached a 2021 injunction.
It was stated that their workaround for external payments was merely a rebranding of the same old restriction. One key point was Apple's attempt to maintain a 27% commission on purchases made outside its App Store, even after being told not to interfere with developers' ability to point users elsewhere.
The court accused Apple of creating a confusing system to make compliance seem optional instead of mandatory. The judge even flagged internal Apple documents that contradicted earlier in-court testimony, suggesting executives knowingly chose the most anti-competitive path.
After the ruling, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney wasted no time announcing Fortnite's return to iOS in the U.S. on X. He took it further with what he dubbed a "peace proposal," where Sweeney pitched Apple a deal: if they implemented the same commission-free system worldwide, Epic would return Fortnite globally and drop all ongoing and future lawsuits.
This wasn't just about Fortnite but was about giving all developers a fair shot at competing with Apple's payment system. According to him, the goal has always been simple: a level playing field where consumers choose what works best, without artificial gatekeeping.
Beyond all the legal wrangling, this comeback is big news. It chips away at the walls Apple put up around its App Store, potentially changing the way developers earn revenue from iOS games.
This also signals Epic's intent to change how power is divided between platform owners and developers. With how surprising this year's been, it's one of the more notable twists.