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The Epic Saga Continues: Fortnite’s Rocky Road Back to Apple’s App Store
After a long and contentious battle, Fortnite has finally made its return to the Apple App Store. However, the road to reinstatement was far from smooth, marked by delays, accusations, and legal wrangling. This report delves into the events surrounding Epic Games’ resubmission of Fortnite to Apple, the obstacles encountered, and the implications of this renewed availability.
A History of Discord
The conflict between Epic Games and Apple began in August 2020 when Epic Games introduced a direct payment system in Fortnite to bypass Apple’s 30% commission on in-app purchases. This move violated Apple’s App Store policies, leading to Fortnite’s removal from the platform. Epic Games responded by filing a lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the tech giant held an illegal monopoly with the App Store.
While the initial court ruling in 2021 was largely favorable to Apple, a subsequent ruling in April 2025 found Apple in “willful violation” of an anti-steering injunction for stifling alternative payment methods. This paved the way for Fortnite’s potential return to the App Store.
The Resubmission and the Delay
Following the favorable court ruling, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced that Fortnite would return to the App Store within a week, provided Apple complied with the judge’s order on a global scale. On May 9, 2025, Epic Games submitted Fortnite for App Store review. However, the app remained stuck in the review process for five days, with no communication from Apple.
Sweeney expressed his frustration on social media, stating that Apple had neither accepted nor rejected the submission, putting a planned Friday update to Fortnite “in jeopardy” across all platforms. Due to the game’s cross-platform nature, updates need to be synchronized across PC, mobile, and consoles. To address the issue of the outdated version, Epic Games withdrew the initial submission and resubmitted a newer version to align with the impending Friday update.
Accusations of Weaponized Review Process
As the delay persisted, Sweeney accused Apple of “weaponizing” the app review process to obstruct competition. He argued that the App Review team should be allowed to review submissions promptly, based on the guidelines, without interference from senior management. Epic Games further claimed that Apple was retaliating for Epic’s challenge to its App Store policies.
Apple, however, denied deliberately delaying the review process. An Apple spokesperson told CBS News that they had asked Epic Sweden to “resubmit the app update without including the U.S. storefront of the App Store so as not to impact Fortnite in other geographies.” They claimed that they did not take any action to remove the live version of Fortnite from alternative distribution marketplaces.
Legal Intervention and Resolution
On May 17, Epic Games stated that Apple would not act on the Fortnite app submission until the Ninth Circuit Court ruled on the partial stay. Epic Games believed this violated the Court’s Injunction and filed a second Motion to Enforce Injunction with the US District Court for the Northern District of California.”
The dispute escalated to the point where a judge warned Apple to resolve the issue promptly or face further court action. Following this warning, Fortnite passed Apple’s review and was reinstated on the US iOS App Store on May 20, 2025, ending a nearly five-year absence.
Fortnite’s Return and its Implications
With Fortnite’s return, iOS players can once again access the game and its latest content. The game’s return also signals potential changes in app store policies regarding in-app purchases and developer rights. The latest version of Fortnite encourages players to purchase V-Bucks directly through Epic Games, offering 20% back in Epic Rewards credits for in-app purchases, marking a win for Epic in its battle over app store commissions.
NYU Stern’s Joost van Dreunen noted that “Epic has forced open a door Apple worked hard to keep shut.” Other developers like Spotify and Amazon Kindle are now following suit with external payment links.
Conclusion: A Tentative Truce
Fortnite’s return to the App Store marks the end of one chapter in the ongoing saga between Epic Games and Apple, but it does not necessarily signal a complete resolution. Apple has already filed to appeal the recent ruling over its US App Store. The two companies have filed a joint notice stating they had ‘resolved all issues’ after judges informed Apple that they must reinstate the app or appear in court once more. The future of their relationship remains uncertain. However, the game’s reinstatement represents a significant victory for Epic Games and a potential turning point for developers seeking more control over their apps and revenue streams within the App Store ecosystem.