The much-anticipated return of Fortnite to the U.S. Apple App Store has finally happened, much to the delight of iPhone and iPad users. Epic Games announced the exciting news via a post on X/Twitter, signaling that fans can once again dive into the immensely popular battle royale game after a five-year hiatus. The Fortnite iOS store page has returned, looking as it did on the day it was removed in 2020, but now proudly proclaims, "Fortnite is back!"
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!
Get Fortnite on the App Store in the U.S. ➡️ https://t.co/HQu3pYCXFm pic.twitter.com/w74QPFFkOS
— Fortnite (@Fortnite) May 20, 2025
At the time of this article's publication, some U.S. Apple users might encounter difficulty locating Fortnite through the App Store's search function, though Epic assures that this will be resolved "soon." In the meantime, you can access its revived store page directly. Meanwhile, E.U. players have the additional options of downloading Fortnite through the Epic Games Store and AltStore.
The return of Fortnite to iOS devices marks the end of a significant chapter in the ongoing saga between Epic and Apple. The conflict began in August 2020 when both Google and Apple removed Fortnite from their digital stores following Epic's update that reduced V-Bucks prices and introduced a direct payment system. Epic cited "exorbitant" store fees from Apple and Google as the reason for their move.
The subsequent legal battle, which kept Fortnite off official storefronts for millions of players, lasted for years. A turning point came in April when Epic CEO Tim Sweeney announced Fortnite's return to the iOS App Store for early May, following a ruling from a U.S. Federal District Court in California. However, a last-minute hiccup involving Apple's continued blocking delayed the return until now, five years later.
Players who download Fortnite on their Apple devices can now choose to buy V-Bucks either through the Epic Games Store or via in-app purchases. For instance, opting for the 2,800 V-Bucks pack priced at $22.99 allows users to pay directly to Epic, receiving a 20% rebate ($4.60) to use on other Epic offerings.
Fortnite V-Bucks purchase options. Image provided by Epic Games.
For more on Fortnite, check out Epic's collaboration with Star Wars, featuring a Darth Vader AI bot. However, this feature has stirred controversy, with players discovering ways to make the bot utter profanities. Yesterday, the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) filed an unfair labor practice charge against Epic over this issue.
