Fortnite Back on iOS App Store Following Court Ruling
Epic Games' Fortnite is returning to the iOS App Store after a significant legal victory against Apple. A judge ruled Apple violated a previous injunction related to in-app purchase options.
The legal dispute began in 2020 when Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store after Epic Games implemented direct payments, bypassing Apple's 30% fee. In 2021, a judge ruled Apple couldn't prevent developers from linking to external payment options.
However, Fortnite remained unavailable on iOS. This week, the same judge declared Apple in "willful violation" of the 2021 injunction. This ruling paved the way for Fortnite's return.
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. 4 years 4 months 17 days. https://t.co/RucrsX7Z4A pic.twitter.com/3kSYnt5pcI
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic)
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney celebrated the decision, stating, "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." He noted the long legal battle, spanning over four years.
This marks a significant win for Epic Games and potentially other app developers challenging Apple's App Store policies.
