Epic Games’ blockbuster multiplayer shooter Fortnite is back on Apple’s U.S. App Store, marking the end of a nearly five-year ban and a significant victory for the video game company.
The return follows a lengthy legal battle that began in 2020, when Epic Games, backed by Chinese tech giant Tencent, challenged Apple’s in-app payment policies. The studio claimed Apple’s commission of up to 30% on in-app purchases violated U.S. antitrust laws.
The breakthrough comes after an April 30 ruling by a federal judge, who found Apple in violation of a previous court order intended to open the App Store to greater competition.
The judge stated Apple had failed to comply with the injunction and referred the matter to federal prosecutors for potential criminal contempt.
