Epic Games announced on Friday that it has submitted Fortnite to the Apple App Store, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal dispute between the two companies. The move follows a recent court ruling that favored Epic Games, allowing the game to return to the iPhone after being removed from the App Store in 2020.
The legal battle began when Epic Games updated Fortnite to allow users to bypass Apple’s in-app payment system by linking to its website for purchases. This update angered Apple, which subsequently removed the game from its App Store, triggering a lengthy legal fight. In last month’s ruling, the court sided with Epic Games, stating that Apple could no longer charge commission fees on external links or control their appearance. This ruling effectively paved the way for Fortnite’s return to iPhones, although Apple still has the option to reject the submission.
This move is the latest chapter in the ongoing tension between Epic Games and Apple, which has included legal battles in various courts and regulatory bodies around the world. The conflict also extends to Google, with Epic Games having filed a similar lawsuit against the tech giant for its Play Store on Android devices.
The court’s decision has already had a notable impact on how app developers approach payments on iPhones. Apple typically takes a commission of 15% to 30% on in-app purchases. By linking to external websites, developers can avoid these fees, as seen with other companies such as Amazon and Spotify, which have updated their apps to direct users to their websites for payments.
For example, Amazon’s Kindle app once prohibited users from purchasing books within the iPhone app. Following the ruling, the app now includes a “Get Book” button that links directly to Amazon’s website, allowing users to make purchases without paying Apple’s commission.
In Europe, Fortnite has been available on iPhones since last year through Epic Games’ own store, thanks to the Digital Markets Act, which allows third-party app stores. Additionally, users can access Fortnite on their iPhones and iPads via cloud gaming services.
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