Fortnite, the immensely popular game by Epic Games, has made a highly anticipated return to the App Store for iPhone and iPad users in the United States, nearly five years after Apple first banned it in August 2020.
Following the removal of Fortnite, Epic Games initiated legal proceedings against Apple, which contended that Epic had breached App Store policies by using an alternative payment system to evade Apple’s In-App Purchase protocol. The legal struggle persisted for years, eventually prompting Apple to allow third-party payment solutions within its App Store. Despite this concession, Apple continues to levy a commission on transactions executed through these external platforms.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple must stop charging this commission, having found that the company violated an injunction. She instructed Apple to enable app developers to direct users toward different payment options, which could potentially offer lower prices for subscriptions or purchases. In light of this ruling, Epic Games announced it would submit Fortnite to the App Store in the U.S., featuring both Apple’s payment method and an alternative option. However, it was revealed that Apple had blocked the submission entirely. Epic also claimed that Apple had hindered the game’s availability on alternative app platforms within the European Union, a statement that Apple contested.
In response to what it characterized as Apple’s uncooperative stance, Epic Games sent a letter to Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, expressing concerns over the unjust prohibition of Fortnite despite its adherence to regulations. The judge warned that Apple’s representative would be held personally responsible for complying with the orders, requiring their appearance in court by May 27 if the issue remained unresolved.
In a notable change, Apple has allowed Fortnite to re-enter the App Store. Players around the world can once again download the game on their iPhones or iPads.
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