After everything, Epic Games submits new 'Fortnite' to US App Store review

AppleInsider

Epic has resubmitted "Fortnite" to Apple for review, aiming to bring the game back to the U.S. App Store nearly four years after the developer violated its agreement, and Apple pulled the title.

Fortnite could return to U.S. App Store soon

In August 2020, Epic willingly violated Apple's App Store rules by allowing players the option to purchase Fortnite's in-game currency directly, rather than through Apple's payment system. This violation not only resulted in the game's removal from the App Store, it kicked off a lengthy legal battle between the two tech giants.

Now it seems like Epic is looking to bring Fortnite back to the iPhone and iPad. On Friday, the company posted on X that it had submitted the game for review.

We've submitted Fortnite to Apple for review so we can launch on the App Store in the U.S.

-- Fortnite (@Fortnite)

May 9, 2025

The saga started when Epic violated the terms of its developer agreement, and directed users off the App Store to buy Fortnite in-game currency. The suit ended finding Epic guilty of the violation, but also finding that Apple's anti-steering provisions in the App Store weren't strictly legal.

Fortnite's potential return in the coming days is the result of a judge ruling Apple deliberately violated that 2021 anti-steering injunction, which wasn't enforced until 2024. Apple's implementation to comply with the injunction was aggressive, and Epic Games filed a complaint in early 2025, which led to the judge finding Apple in violation of the order.

While Epic may have felt like it won the battle, it's not entirely clear who won the war. What is clear, however, is the fact that the whole debacle has cost Epic more than $1 billion.

Apple has appealed the new order, saying that it has the right to protect its business interests and intellectual property. It has also filed for an injunction on the changes it has been ordered to make immediately.



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ig-apple_vienna

I hope NOBODY will buy this app

edited May 9

sitime

IG-apple_vienna said:

I hope NOBODY will buy this app

Was that a joke as the app will be free (Fortnite is a freemium game)? Or was that a genuine hope that nobody will “buy” (/download for free) the app?

edited May 9

nikon8

It is just strange why people pay to play this game. 

danox

IG-apple_vienna said:

I hope NOBODY will buy this app

They will and the parents will blame/cry to Apple in front of the media when their kid rings up the charges to $3000 dollars, in their cry they will voice the unfairness of it all, and ask Apple to give them a refund/forgive the debt because after all the software is running on a Apple device. (Epic/Tencent will be nowhere to be found in true third World fashion and that also includes judge Gonzalez)   

edited May 10

ashsaturday

Taking money from children with bright colored characters. Sounds like the best company ever.  Tank you Sim Tweenny

beowulfschmidt

I fail to see why Apple is obligated to host this app just because of this ruling.

tiredskills

beowulfschmidt said:

I fail to see why Apple is obligated to host this app just because of this ruling.

They aren't, but they still should. Apple needs to realise that a good relationship with developers makes their products better for their customers.  Lots of their customers want to play Fortnite.  Being petty and contrarian got them into this mess, they need to start being grown up about their platform administration.

edited May 13