Fortnite returns to the iOS App Store in the US after five-year absence

Fortnite has officially returned to the iOS App Store in the U.S., marking the end of a five-year absence following a legal battle between Epic Games and Apple.

Epic announced the news with a celebratory message: “Fortnite is BACK on the App Store in the U.S. on iPhones and iPads… and on the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the E.U! It’ll show up in Search soon!”

The return comes after a U.S. judge recently ruled that Apple had violated a 2021 court injunction by continuing to block third-party payment methods and enforcing its 27% commission fee. The court ordered Apple to either reinstate Fortnite or appear in court to justify its actions.

This decision follows a long-running legal dispute that began in 2020, when Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store after Epic introduced a direct payment system that bypassed Apple’s in-app purchase rules.

Initially, Apple rejected Epic’s attempt to reintroduce Fortnite to the store, briefly suspending its availability in Europe as well. But Tuesday’s court order cleared the way for its long-awaited comeback.

The version now available on the U.S. App Store includes external payment options and encourages users to purchase directly from Epic, offering additional incentives for doing so.

Former Fortnite creative director Donald Mustard reacted by saying:

“This is absolutely incredible. Everyone go get Fortnite on your Phones and iPads NOW! We worked SO hard in those early days to create a great control scheme for mobile!”

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney added a simple but meaningful message:

“We back fam.”