Fortnite Returns to U.S. App Store: Epic Games Makes a Comeback!

A judge’s threats were necessary for a resolution to finally occur: Apple has approved Fortnite’s return to the American App Store last night, where it is now available again after a five-year hiatus. Fortnite quickly soared to the top of the most downloaded free games chart. Its publisher has also re-launched it in the European Union through the Epic Games Store, which serves as an alternative to the App Store.

In August 2020, Epic Games took a bold step against Apple by implementing an alternative payment system within Fortnite, offering players a discounted rate if they opted for this method. In response, Apple removed Fortnite from its App Store, leading to a prolonged legal drama. Earlier this month, Apple faced a significant legal defeat in the US courts, which ordered the tech giant to stop enforcing a commission on purchases made outside of the App Store. The latest version of Fortnite allows users to choose between an in-app payment and a redirect to the Epic Games Store, where they can receive a 20% reward on the amount spent (which can, for example, be used to purchase games).