Epic's Tim Sweeney: Fortnite Returns to US iPhones

Fortnite will return to iOS devices in the U.S. App Store next week following a major court decision, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced.

On April 30, a U.S. federal court ruled Apple knowingly violated a previous court mandate from the Epic Games v. Apple lawsuit that required the tech giant to allow developers to offer alternative purchasing options outside its App Store.

Sweeney presented Apple with what he called a "peace proposal" through Twitter/X, offering to end Epic's longstanding legal battles: "If Apple implements the court-approved system globally—removing fees and restrictions—we'll restore Fortnite to iOS worldwide and cease all related litigation."

Earlier this year, IGN reported on Sweeney's multibillion-dollar crusade against Apple and Google's app store policies. The Epic CEO framed these legal battles as strategic investments in Fortnite's future, asserting the company could sustain this fight indefinitely.

The core conflict stems from Epic's refusal to pay the standard 30% platform fees on mobile transactions. Instead, the company aims to distribute Fortnite through its own Epic Games Store, bypassing Apple and Google's storefronts entirely. This dispute famously led to Fortnite's removal from iOS devices in 2020.

Nearly five years later, American iPhone users will soon regain access to Fortnite.

Sweeney celebrated the court ruling on social media: "Web transactions remain fee-free. This marks the end of Apple's unfair commission structure."

"Apple's 15-30% fees now violate U.S. law just as they do under Europe's Digital Markets Act," he continued. "These practices are officially unlawful on both continents."

The court referred Apple to federal prosecutors for violating its injunction. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers stated: "Apple's anti-competitive behavior won't be excused. This isn't negotiable—when a company deliberately disobeys court orders, consequences follow."

The judge specifically cited Apple executive Alex Roman for providing misleading testimony about the company's compliance efforts, describing his statements as containing "numerous falsehoods."

Apple responded: "We fundamentally disagree with this decision and will appeal, though we will comply with the court's order."

This ruling represents Epic's most significant legal victory outside Europe, where the Digital Markets Act previously forced Apple to open its ecosystem.

In 2023, Epic launched its mobile store on EU iOS devices and Android worldwide, offering Fortnite alongside Rocket League Sideswipe and Fall Guys Mobile. However, Epic reports complicated installation processes continue deterring up to half of potential mobile users.

The legal battles have taken their toll on Epic's workforce. The company laid off 830 employees (16% of staff) in September 2023. Despite this, Sweeney maintained in October that Epic had achieved financial stability, with Fortnite and the Epic Games Store reaching record engagement levels.