Fortnite could return to U.S. App Store soon
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.
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.
