Epic's Tim Sweeney Announces Fortnite's Return to U.S. iPhones After Nearly 5 Years

Fortnite is poised to make a triumphant return to the U.S. iOS App Store and iPhones next week, following a landmark court ruling, as announced by 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. This order mandated Apple to allow developers to offer alternative purchasing methods outside their apps, circumventing Apple's in-app payment system.

In response, Sweeney took to Twitter to extend a "peace proposal" to Apple, suggesting that if Apple were to implement a global, fee-free framework as mandated by the court, Epic would not only bring Fortnite back to the App Store worldwide but also drop all current and future litigation on this matter.

Sweeney's legal battle with Apple and Google over app store fees has been well-publicized. Epic's contention is rooted in its refusal to pay the customary 30% store fees on mobile game revenue. Instead, Epic aims to operate Fortnite through its own Epic Games Store on mobile devices, bypassing the fees imposed by Apple and Google. This disagreement led to Fortnite's exclusion from iOS back in 2020, and now, nearly five years later, the game is set to return to U.S. iPhones.

Sweeney celebrated the court's decision on Twitter, declaring, "NO FEES on web transactions. Game over for the Apple Tax." He further stated that Apple's 15-30% fees are now considered unlawful in the U.S., just as they are in Europe under the Digital Markets Act.

The court has escalated the matter by referring Apple and one of its executives, Alex Roman, to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt investigation. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers condemned Apple's actions, emphasizing that the court's injunction must be respected, not negotiated. Apple, in response, expressed strong disagreement with the ruling but confirmed it would comply while appealing the decision.

Epic's legal victories have primarily been in Europe through the Digital Markets Act, but this U.S. ruling marks significant progress. Last August, the Epic Games Store launched on iPhones in the EU and on Android devices worldwide, featuring games like Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys. However, Epic has faced challenges in getting these games running smoothly on mobile devices, with "scare screens" deterring up to 50% of users.

Despite the financial strain, including significant layoffs affecting 830 employees at its North Carolina studio in September 2023, Sweeney remains optimistic. In October last year, he stated that Epic is now "financially sound," with both Fortnite and the Epic Games Store achieving new highs in concurrency and success.