Fortnite is set to make a triumphant return to the U.S. iOS App Store and iPhones next week, following a landmark court ruling, according to Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney. On April 30, a U.S. Federal District Court in California ruled that Apple had willfully violated a court order in the Epic Games v. Apple case, which mandated Apple to allow developers to provide alternative payment methods outside of their apps.
In a tweet, Sweeney proposed a "peace proposal" to Apple, amidst their ongoing legal battles. He stated, "If Apple extends the court's friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide, we'll return Fortnite to the App Store worldwide and drop current and future litigation on the topic."
Back in January, IGN highlighted Sweeney's substantial investment in fighting both Apple and Google over their app store policies. Sweeney considers this a long-term investment in Epic and Fortnite’s future, expressing confidence in Epic's ability to sustain the legal battle for decades.
Sweeney’s mission to bring Fortnite back to mobile devices without paying the customary 30% store fees has been well-documented. Epic aims to operate Fortnite through its own Epic Games Store on mobile devices, bypassing Apple and Google's fees. This dispute led to Fortnite's removal from iOS in 2020. Now, almost five years later, Fortnite is poised to return to U.S. iPhones.
In another tweet, Sweeney celebrated the court ruling, stating, "NO FEES on web transactions. Game over for the Apple Tax. Apple’s 15-30% junk fees are now just as dead here in the United States of America as they are in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. Unlawful here, unlawful there."
Apple will now face further legal scrutiny as U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has referred the company and one of its executives, Alex Roman, to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt investigation. The judge criticized Roman's testimony as "replete with misdirection and outright lies." Apple responded by saying, "we strongly disagree with the decision. We will comply with the court’s order and we will appeal."
Despite multiple legal battles, Epic has achieved significant progress, especially following successes in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. Last August, the Epic Games Store launched on iPhones in the EU and on Android devices worldwide, featuring Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys for mobile. However, Epic has faced challenges with user adoption due to "scare screens" deterring up to 50% of potential users.
Amidst these efforts, Epic has faced financial strain, leading to significant layoffs. In September 2023, 830 employees, about 16% of its workforce in North Carolina, were let go. Despite this, Sweeney affirmed in October last year that the company remains "financially sound," with both Fortnite and the Epic Games Store achieving new records in concurrency and success.
