Epic Games has made good on its latest promise by bringing Fortnite back to iPhone and iPad in the US after a federal court injunction forced Apple to change its App Store rules regarding payments and commissions. Nearly five years after its removal, the game returns with a major makeover. However, Fortnite is only available through the App Store in one region, and there are several reasons why it might be removed again.
Royal push battle
For the first time, players are offered payment options before purchasing the in-game currency known as V-Bucks. When purchasing V-Bucks in Fortnite, you now have two options: the Epic Games Store and Apple’s in-app purchase system. The Apple version is familiar, fully integrated and already configured.
The Epic Games Store button opens in the browser instead of staying in the app, but you get a 20 percent Epic Rewards bonus for using it. This makes it a better value if you make regular Epic Games Store purchases, even if the flow isn’t completely smooth. Prior to the court order, this option would not be allowed to be offered, especially with a marketing incentive.
Fortnite had previously been absent from the App Store since 2020 after Epic Games snuck a direct payment option for V-Bucks into the app to intentionally violate Apple’s rules. The move was a calculated protest against Apple’s 30% commission on in-app purchases, and sparked a years-long antitrust battle between the two companies.
Epic declared victory after a federal judge ruled that Apple could no longer block developers from linking to or advertising third-party payment methods. The ruling also bars Apple from applying a 27% commission to off-app purchases made through in-app links.
Fortnite is at the top of the App Store, but its fate is still uncertain
Fortnite has not been approved after the standard app review process. Far from it. Instead, Epic introduced the app a week after Apple’s forced policy change, and then began raising questions in court about Apple’s stonewalling. Just when it looked like Apple executives might have to explain themselves to a judge, the app was suddenly approved. Less than 24 hours later, Fortnite became the number one free game in the US App Store.
But this is not over yet. Apple is appealing the ruling that forced these App Store changes. Apple also requested a stay that would allow it to revert to the old rules while the appeal is underway. If that is granted, Fortnite’s fate will return to limbo.
If Apple is granted the stay or wins the appeal, Epic will either back down or force Apple to run it again. For Epic, Fortnite’s presence in the App Store depends on choosing to pay. Right now, Fortnite’s return is completely held together through court pressure, and nothing has been settled.
Only in America, not on Mac
For now, Fortnite is back in the US App Store only. Even in the European Union, Epic uses its own store and alternative distribution options made possible by the Digital Markets Act.
If you’re outside the US or EU, cloud gaming is still the best option for iOS. Nvidia GeForce Now It offers a free tier (with time limits and ads) and paid options ranging from $10-$20 per month depending on performance level. Xbox Cloud Gaming is another option, and there are others, but none of them offer the native app experience that comes with App Store distribution.
Even in the US, Fortnite players may find that the game is available on the App Store, but requires more RAM than their device needs to actually run. Apple’s latest 11-inch iPad A16 For $299 (reg. $349) it’s a safe upgrade option on a budget.
Cloud gaming does not have this limitation. If your device can stream video and handle a controller, you can play Fortnite through services like GeForce Now, regardless of RAM. Native apps have benefits, but only if your device can actually run the game.
Separately, Fortnite for Mac has been offline since 2020. This decision was part of Epic’s protest against Apple’s policies. Although there was nothing technically preventing a return today, it did not happen.
FTC: We use automatic affiliate links to earn income. more.