After a lengthy process in the United States courts, Apple has been ruled against, meaning Epic Games is finally set to bring Fortnite back to the iOS App Store nearly five years after its removal.
In August, 2020, Epic Games made the shock decision to remove Fortnite, its most popular title, from Apple’s iOS App Store. This move was made in order to take a stand against Apple’s commissions on in-app purchases like V-Bucks, wherein, Apple would take a cut of every purchase.
Although Apple was winning the legal battle for most of the half-decade stretch, a new April 30, 2025, court filing has ruled against the company. According to Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, “Apple willfully violated and ignored a 2021 decision that came out of the Epic Games case.
With Apple now being considered for criminal contempt, the company has been ordered to stop imposing commissions on in-app purchases via web links. As a result, Epic is now willing to bring Fortnite back to the most widely used App Store in the world.
Epic was quick to take a stand against Apple, even using in-game assets to compare their ‘control’ to George Orwell’s 1984.
Apple forced to stop taking fees from in-app purchases
In a huge motion not just for Epic, but for all app developers, Apple has now been ordered to stop imposing commissions on purchases made through website links directly inside apps.
For instance, if you go to purchase V-Bucks inside the Fortnite app, it may redirect you to an Epic Games website. Previously, completing the purchase here would have incurred an additional 15-30% fee so Apple could take a cut. Now, however, there will be no additional fees.
This decision was made as Judge Rogers found Apple to have “outright lied” to the court in a previous hearing. “Neither Apple, nor its counsel, corrected the, now obvious lies,” Rogers said.
In fact, the Judge has since referred the case to US attorneys as both Apple’s representative, Vice President of Finance, Alex Roman, and Apple at large are being considered for criminal contempt.
“In stark contrast to Apple’s initial in-court testimony, contemporaneous business documents reveal that Apple knew exactly what it was doing and at every turn chose the most anticompetitive option,” Rogers added. “To hide the truth, Vice-President of Finance, Alex Roman, outright lied under oath.”
As such, Rogers ordered Apple to stop applying its commissions on in-app web purchases, effective immediately. Topping it off, the Judge also ordered Apple to pay for Epic Games’ attorney fees.
Fortnite finally returning to the US iOS App Store
It’s been almost five years, 56 months to be exact, since Fortnite was last available, in an official capacity, on the iOS App Store. At long last, it’s set to make its epic return “next week,” as Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney shared on X (formerly Twitter), in light of the court filing.
“No fees on web transactions. Game over for the Apple Tax,” Sweeney said.
“Apple’s 15-30% junk fees are now just as dead here in the US as they are in Europe. Unlawful here, unlawful there.”
Furthermore, Sweeney then offered up a more considerable proposal. If Apple “extends” the court’s motion of removing its commissions not just in the US, but worldwide, then Epic will “return Fortnite to the App Store worldwide and drop current and future litigation on the topic.”
The ball is now in Apple’s court. Fortnite fans can look forward to jumping back into the Battle Royale on iOS devices without fear of additional in-app costs starting from next week.