After years of legal battles, arguments over App Store policies, and endless back-and-forth between Epic Games and Apple, Fortnite is finally back on the App Store worldwide. For millions of iPhone and iPad players, this marks the end of a ban that lasted for almost five years. The devices use Apple’s iOS and iPadOS operating systems, respectively.

It all started on August 13, 2020, when Epic Games added its own direct payment system to Fortnite on iOS. This allowed players to buy V-Bucks without going through Apple’s payment system, which normally takes a 30% cut from purchases. Apple responded quickly, removing the game from the App Store the same day, and Epic immediately filed a lawsuit.

Apple versus Epic timeline explained

After the initial removal, things escalated further later that month when Apple terminated Epic’s developer account completely. What followed was years of legal battles, appeals, and court rulings that slowly reshaped how app payments work on iOS devices.

A major turning point came when courts ordered Apple to allow developers to include external payment links. However, Epic continued fighting after Apple reportedly introduced new fees and restrictions around those systems. Earlier this year, courts once again ruled against some of Apple’s App Store practices, helping clear the path for Fortnite to finally return globally.

Epic Games confirmed the return in an official statement, saying the company believes governments around the world will continue pushing for fairer App Store policies once Apple is forced to become more transparent about its fees and costs.

Players can now once again download Fortnite directly from the App Store on iPhone and iPad in most parts of the world. Popular modes like Battle Royale and Zero Build are available again, meaning mobile players no longer need cloud streaming workarounds just to play the game.

However, there is still one major exception. Fortnite has not yet returned to the App Store in Australia. According to Epic, Australian courts have already found some of Apple’s developer terms unlawful, but Apple is still enforcing those conditions. Because of that, Epic says it will wait for another court decision or policy change before bringing the game back there.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.