Four years after being booted, Fortnite is officially trying to make a comeback on the U.S. App Store.
It’s the showdown that never really ended: Epic Games vs. Apple, round… well, we’ve lost count. But today, a major move has been made as Epic has re-submitted Fortnite to the U.S. App Store, marking the first real attempt to bring the game back since its headline-making ban in 2020.
This isn’t just about a game, though. It’s about Apple’s tight grip on in-app purchases and the broader question of who controls the digital checkout counter.
Why Was Fortnite Banned in the First Place?
If you’ve forgotten (it’s been a while), Epic Games originally got Fortnite kicked off the App Store because it bypassed Apple’s in-app purchase system, redirecting users to pay through Epic’s own platform, which meant no 30% cut for Apple. Apple didn’t like that. Cue the banhammer.
Since then, there’s been a lengthy legal battle, some bruised egos, and a lot of court time. While the courts didn’t exactly side with Epic, they did eventually force Apple to allow developers to link to external purchase options, something that changes the game (pun intended).
The Sneaky Return via Sweden
Epic’s U.S. developer account is still banned, so how are they submitting Fortnite? The answer: Sweden.
Epic established a Swedish App Store developer account last year in preparation for launching a marketplace under the EU’s new Digital Markets Act. That same account is now being used to submit Fortnite to the U.S. App Store. Yep, it’s a bit of a loophole, and one Apple probably didn’t see coming.
Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney says Apple is aware of what’s happening, but no one’s confirmed if Apple gave an actual thumbs-up. Sweeney seems optimistic, saying he’d be “very surprised” if Apple blocked the app, especially given the political optics of banning a globally popular title like Fortnite.
Will Apple Approve It?
That’s the billion-dollar question… like, literally.
Technically, Apple still has the power to reject Epic’s submission, especially since the U.S. developer account is still frozen. But doing so might stir up another regulatory hornet’s nest and Apple’s already got a few buzzing around thanks to EU scrutiny and U.S. court rulings.
For now, the App Store rules require that Apple allows external purchase links, and crucially, it can’t take a cut from those outside payments. That’s a pretty major shift from how the platform has historically operated.
Still, Apple isn’t sitting quietly. They’ve filed an emergency motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals asking for permission to keep charging fees on external purchases and maintain control over how those links look. A decision on that is expected by May 28.
The 404 Take on This
Fortnite may be ready to drop back in on iPhones, but Apple still holds the controller. Whether they hit “accept” or “deny” is anyone’s guess. In my own opinion though, I can’t be too critical about this and would absolutely love to see Fortnite return to the iPhone and iPad.
Would you re-download Fortnite if it makes a comeback on iOS?
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