After nearly five years of legal tension and app store battles, Fortnite is officially back on Apple’s App Store in the U.S. and Europe.
Epic Games announced the return of its hugely popular battle royale title in a statement, confirming that iPhone and iPad users in the U.S. can once again download Fortnite via the App Store, while players in the EU have access through both the Epic Games Store and AltStore.
The statement from Epic was straightforward and celebratory: “‘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 EU! It’ll show up in Search soon!”
This return marks a major shift in one of the most high-profile tech disputes of the decade. The conflict started back in 2020 when Epic introduced its own in-app payment system in Fortnite, bypassing Apple’s mandatory 30% fee. Apple swiftly pulled Fortnite from the App Store, leading to a lengthy court battle over antitrust laws, app store policies, and digital marketplace competition.
Recently, the situation took a new turn when Epic filed a motion to enforce Apple’s compliance with previous court rulings, accusing the tech giant of blocking Fortnite not only in the U.S. App Store but also from third-party alternatives in the EU. These new platforms became available under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, designed to increase competition and break Apple’s grip on app distribution.
The judge overseeing the case didn’t mince words. He stated that Apple was “fully capable of resolving this issue without further briefing or a hearing” and made it clear that the person responsible for ensuring compliance might have to return to court if things didn’t get sorted.
Now, Apple and Epic have filed a joint notice with the court stating that all issues raised in the recent motion have been resolved. “The parties jointly submit that they have resolved all issues presented by the Motion to Enforce, and that no further submissions by the parties or action by the Court are required.”
This outcome means iOS users can once again jump into the action-packed world of Fortnite without sideloading or using workarounds. And for EU players, the availability on alternative stores like AltStore is a big step forward in app distribution freedom.
In short, Fortnite is back where millions of players want it to be: on iPhones and iPads. After years of court filings, public statements, and regulatory developments, it seems both sides have found a way to move forward, at least for now.
Whether this resolution sets the tone for future dealings between major developers and app store gatekeepers remains to be seen. But for players, one thing’s certain: Fortnite is finally back.
