Epic Games is pulling off a long-awaited move: bringing Fortnite back to the iPhone in the United States. After years of legal drama with Apple, a courtroom victory last week cracked open the door. Now, with one clever workaround, Epic is stepping through it.
So, What Changed?
Following a recent U.S. court order, Apple must allow developers to add third-party payment links in apps, and at zero commission. Epic Games immediately jumped on the news, announcing plans to relaunch Fortnite on iOS. But there was one catch: Epic’s U.S. developer account had been terminated back in 2020 and wasn’t part of the ruling.
That left everyone wondering, how would Epic even get Fortnite back onto the U.S. App Store?
Enter the EU Workaround
Epic’s solution came from across the Atlantic. CEO Tim Sweeney revealed on X that the company will use its Sweden-based Epic Games account, which was originally created to launch the Epic Games Store in the EU, to submit Fortnite to the U.S. App Store. Apple had previously required this EU-domiciled account to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), but now it’s being repurposed.
This clever move clears the last real obstacle standing in Fortnite’s way.
Fortnite for iOS: Imminent Return
The game hasn’t been submitted for App Review just yet, but according to Sweeney, it’s only a matter of days. If the review process moves fast which it likely will given the public spotlight on this, Fortnite could be back on iPhones and iPads in the U.S. before the weekend.
Sweeney also expressed that he’s hopeful for the game to make a return to the Mac as well if the peace proposal moves forward as expected.
Meanwhile, Apple Is Still Fighting Back
It’s worth noting that Apple is only complying with the judge’s ruling because it has to, for now. The company has already filed an appeal, hoping to undo the decision and reclaim more control over how payments work in the App Store. But unless that appeal gains traction soon, the current changes stand, and developers like Epic are taking full advantage.
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Fortnite’s return isn’t just a nostalgic moment for gamers, it’s a symbol of the shifting power dynamic between developers and the App Store gatekeepers. And this round, it looks like Epic is winning.
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