Popular online video game Fortnite has made a return to the U.S. App Store after Apple finally approved The Epic Games submisision. Fortnite had not been in the iOS App Store since 2020.
Apple had dragged its feet on allowing Fortnite back into the U.S. App Store, but after U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers yesterday indicated that unless Apple returned the game to the App Store it would face more time in court and an “Apple official who is personally responsible for ensuring compliance shall personally appear” at a May 27 hearing. That meant a high-ranking Apple executive, such as App Store chief Phil Schiller, would need to attend the hearing. That threat was apparently what was needed to spur Apple to finally allow the game back into the App Store.
Fortnite is now available in the U.S. through the iOS App Store, and via the Epic Games Store app marketplace in the European Union. The game is not currently available in the App Store in any other regions The U.S. version of Fortnite allow players to purchase in-app currency through the Epic Games website. No in-app purchases are available.
Apple had told Epic Games that it would not approve Fortnite’s return to the U.S. App Store until their legal dispute had been resolved. Apple has appealed the judge’s ruling that requires it to allow developers to link customers to outside app and content purchase options other than the U.S. App Store. That appeal is still pending.
