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The long battle between Apple and Epic Games (over Fortnite) may have finally come to an end.
After five years of legal disputes, the battle royale is once again available on iOS devices via the App Store, although only in the United States. In Europe (and Spain) it will be different.
Fortnite returns to Apple (iOS), but in Europe you can't use the official Store
The final resolution of the case that has pitted Epic Games against Apple over Fortnite has come to an end, marking the return of the video game to the App Store in the United States.
Apple has had to allow its return and the implementation of Epic's own payment system, through which it will not be able to obtain any type of commission. In Europe it has not yet been implemented.
Since last year, in Europe, you can play Fortnite on an iPhone through Epic Games' official website. In other words, installation is allowed through a store other than Apple's.
The process is as simple as searching for the section, choosing iOS in the device selection, authorizing its installation, waiting for it to finish and playing.
Apple vs. Fortnite: reasons and origin of the dispute
The history between Apple and Fortnite is a bit complex to follow, which is why I'm going to offer you a summary of the most important aspects. Broadly speaking, it all started in 2020. That year, Apple decided to remove Fortnite from its App Store.
The reason was that Epic Games had implemented a direct payment system that byed Apple's 30% commission on in-game purchases, which Epic considered excessive. In response, Apple removed Fortnite from its store, and Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Apple for anti-competitive practices.
After numerous discussions, in 2021 a judge ruled that Apple must allow developers to include links to external payment systems, partially siding with Epic Games
However, Apple maintained its commission system within the App Store. Epic accused Apple of hindering compliance with this order, which created additional tensions.
Epic Games announced that it would return to iOS and Android, but ran into a roadblock: Apple blocked its developer in 2024, preventing its return to the App Store in both the US and Europe.
This blockade, especially in the EU, was controversial due to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which forces Apple to allow alternative app stores.
As expected, the legal disputes continued. Epic defended its right to operate in the App Store with external payment systems, while Apple justified the blocking by breaches of its policies.
Finally, regulatory pressure, especially in the EU, has forced Apple to allow the Epic Games Store, making it easier for Fortnite to return to iOS in Europe in 2024.
In the US, Epic's developer was restored in 2025, marking the end of the blockade, allowing Fortnite to return to iOS devices, bringing (or so it seems) a long-running dispute to an end.