Fortnite Returns to iOS in the US After Major Epic Games Victory Over Apple

After more than four years of legal battles, Epic Games has scored a major win in its ongoing antitrust case against Apple. As a result, Fortnite is set to return to the iOS App Store in the United States in early May 2025.

Court Ruling Ends “Apple Tax” on Web Transactions

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney celebrated the moment on Twitter/X, revealing that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has found Apple in contempt of a 2021 injunction meant to curb its anticompetitive practices.

“NO FEES on web transactions. Game over for the Apple Tax,” Sweeney posted.

The court ruled that Apple willfully violated the 2021 order by continuing to restrict developers from directing users to alternative payment methods. Such conduct, the court said, was a clear interference with fair competition and “will not be tolerated.”

This decision means Apple’s controversial 15–30% commission on in-app purchases has now been declared unlawful in the U.S., echoing similar regulations already enforced in the European Union under the Digital Markets Act.

Global Rollout Planned for iOS Return

Alongside the U.S. launch, Epic has also confirmed that both the Epic Games Store and Fortnite will become available on iOS in the United Kingdom and Japan in the second half of 2025.

The dispute between Epic and Apple began back in August 2020, when Fortnite was removed from both the App Store and Google Play Store for bypassing Apple and Google’s payment systems. Fortnite made a return to Android in August 2024 via the newly launched Epic Games Store.

Expected Launch Window

While an exact date hasn't been confirmed, Fortnite is expected to return to the U.S. iOS App Store sometime between May 5 and May 11, 2025.