Fortnite Triumphant Return to the U.S. Apple App Store

The problem between Epic and Apple began when Epic released an update that allowed payment for Fortnite to go to them instead of through Apple’s app. This could raise the question of whether it matters, as the money would go to Epic anyway. The trick is that when someone purchases anything for Fortnite in the Apple App Store, Apple takes 30% of it.

The decision to bypass Apple resulted in Fortnite’s removal from the App Store and legal battles. The game’s prolonged exile from the App Store has been a hindrance for gamers with iPhones and iPads. Everything has changed now that, just yesterday, a post revealed that Fortnite will be available soon.

Epic Games Strikes Back

Fortnite has been capturing gamers as it features a virtual gunfighting and building experience on a digital island that’s unlike any other. In just a few days, Epic Games’ motion that they filed with a federal judge to be returned to Apple products will go through. The motion was a part of the civil contempt issue that Epic Games filed against Apple last month. Coincidentally, last week the game stopped working on Apple devices everywhere and is still unavailable today.

Apple did reply to Fortnite and Epic Games, stating that the dispute they have had together that has kept them apart had been resolved. There hasn’t been any other comment, statement, or change since that last notice. It’s hard to believe that this has been going on for almost five years.

Just Rolling with The Lawsuit

Epic had filed a lawsuit stating that Apple had been using its store in an illegal monopoly scheme. In their first motion, Epic Games lost in their first attempt. That first trial lasted a month and was ruled by a federal judge in Apple’s favor back in 2021. Then US district judge Rogers ordered Apple to allow other links and apps with lower prices in their store.

Epic Games filed an appeal that kept going through the system to the Supreme Court. As a result, Apple came out with a new system in their app store that offered links with alternative payment. However, these options still kept a commission that would go to Apple with each transaction.

Epic Games kept up the fight and fought once again in the legal field against Apple. This brought on more hearings and court dates until it reached Rogers again. Once again, Rogers sided with Epic Games, forcing Apple to not be able to collect any type of commission through their app’s purchases in their store.

It’s in the Store but Unavailable

You would think that would have been the last thing that Epic Games was waiting for, but since they have won, Fortnite is still unavailable for use through Apple. With everything going on between Epic Games and Apple, Fortnite users still have to wait as another motion is filed to have Apple release the game to its users. This motion is still in the works, as it appears it has gone to Rogers again. This motion is scheduled for a hearing on May 27^th.

This long-standing problem has restricted Fortnite players for years, and here is to the hope that they can resolve the problem so more players can jump out of the bus, land with their boots on, to change the island forever. I mean, can’t we all get along? Leave a comment below on what you think.