Epic Games’ Fortnite has successfully returned to the Apple App Store in the United States. The reinstatement came following a landmark federal court ruling that opposes Apple’s long-standing App Store practices, especially regarding in-app payment systems.
In August 2020, Epic Games added a direct payment feature to Fortnite, bypassing Apple’s in-app purchasing mechanism that charged a commission of 30% on all transactions. The action resulted in Fortnite’s removal from the App Store, and Epic sued Apple for monopolistic behavior.
Legal Proceedings and Court Rulings
The fight in court ended in a 2021 decision in which Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled Apple’s anti-steering clauses, prohibitions against developers from sending users to other payment options, were against California’s Unfair Competition Law. Apple was not declared a monopolist, but the court required it to permit developers to include links for payments outside of the App Store.
Regardless of the ruling, Apple’s follow-up compliance efforts were not well received. Apple implemented a 27% commission on third-party transactions and made use of “scare screens” in an attempt to deter customers from using alternate payment options. In response, Judge Rogers charged Apple with intentionally violating the injunction and referred it for possible criminal contempt sanctions.
Fortnite’s Reinstatement and Apple’s Response
In April 2025, Apple gave the go-ahead for Fortnite’s return to the App Store under judicial pressure. The move was welcomed by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney as a triumph for consumers and developers pushing for fair competition. Apple, however, has strongly disagreed with the court ruling and has appealed, seeking to reverse the ruling.
The ruling has far-reaching implications beyond Fortnite. Developers are now in a position to incorporate alternate payment systems into their apps, hopefully earning more of their revenue that was otherwise taken by Apple’s commissions. This change might lead other leading players like Spotify and Netflix to seek out alternate paths for in-app payments as well.
Additionally, the ruling could affect Apple’s partnerships with other technology companies. Microsoft, for one, has pointed to Apple’s restrictive measures as an obstacle to the opening of its Xbox mobile store, highlighting the wider industry implications of the court’s directive.
In Europe, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) has forced Apple to enable alternative app stores and payment systems on its devices. Epic Games has used this law to distribute Fortnite via third-party app stores in the EU, further testing Apple’s grip on app distribution and monetization.