Epic Games Pushes Apple to Restore Fortnite on the U.S. App Store
Is Fortnite coming back to the App Store in 2025? That’s the question millions of gamers and mobile developers are asking. The latest development in the long-running legal battle between Epic Games and Apple has Epic formally requesting Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to order Apple to allow a compliant version of Fortnite on the U.S. App Store. This move could have major implications not just for gamers but also for mobile app developers navigating Apple’s strict payment policies.
For years, Epic Games and Apple have been entangled in a high-stakes legal fight over App Store commission fees and antitrust issues. At the heart of the battle is Apple’s control over in-app payments and its controversial 30% commission—a major point of contention for developers looking to boost app monetization, ad revenue, and user acquisition strategies. In a recent court win for Epic, Judge Rogers found Apple in "willful violation" of a previous injunction meant to curb anti-competitive behavior, giving developers hope for more freedom in how they handle in-app transactions.
Despite this legal victory, Epic’s fight isn’t over. Apple has stated its intent to appeal the ruling, and in the meantime, has blocked Fortnite from returning to the U.S. App Store. According to Epic’s filing, Apple is not only delaying Fortnite's return but also punishing the publisher by denying access to the very marketplace Epic helped to challenge. This strategic move by Apple also sends a strong message to other app developers: questioning Apple’s App Store practices could come with serious consequences.
Adding fuel to the fire, Epic claims Apple is blocking Fortnite worldwide by not allowing it on the U.S. storefront—even preventing its distribution via the Epic Games Store in the EU. Apple, however, disputes this, saying it only requested Epic Sweden remove the U.S. listing to avoid wider disruptions. Meanwhile, Fortnite fans remain caught in the crossfire, with the game currently unavailable on iOS globally.
Epic’s latest legal filing calls on the court to force Apple’s hand, stating that the company is unjustly denying access and stifling competition in the mobile gaming and app development ecosystem. This isn’t just about Fortnite—it’s about shaping the future of digital storefronts, in-app purchases, and how tech giants control access to platforms that drive billions in revenue.
Stay tuned as the court weighs in on what could be a landmark moment for app store regulation, developer rights, and the broader mobile gaming industry.
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