A fresh development in the long-standing saga between Epic Games and Apple might finally change the playing field for Fortnite fans using iOS devices. A US federal judge recently ruled against Apple’s restrictions on alternative payment methods within apps, leading Epic to propose dropping its ongoing lawsuit if Apple complies globally. That could mean Fortnite returns to the App Store as soon as next week.
The ruling came from Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who ordered Apple to stop forcing developers to use its 27% commission system exclusively for in-app purchases. She also directed Apple to cease discouraging users from making purchases through links outside the store’s payment setup. This is a big pushback against Apple’s tight control over payments inside iOS apps.
The court also found that Apple violated an earlier injunction from 2021 and accused VP Alex Roman of having “outright lied under oath,” opening the door for potential criminal contempt charges. Amid this legal storm, Epic seized the moment: if Apple applies these changes worldwide, Epic is ready to end all current and future lawsuits, including its fight to introduce an independent store on iOS, and bring Fortnite back onto iPhones.
Apple‘s stance on how tightly it controls commerce within its ecosystem has been a significant friction point with many developers. If upheld broadly, the ruling could significantly reshape app store economics.
The vibe coming out of Epic after this decision is surprisingly conciliatory. In a press briefing covered by The Game Business, Tim Sweeney shared his thoughts:
“We were one of Apple’s best partners for more than a decade, from the point we released Infinity Blade for iOS and did great Unreal Engine support, right up until we started fighting them in 2020. A good decade of great partnership. We hope with now the law being classified, and Apple’s legal obligations under these consumer protection laws being clear, and now with Apple being forced by the court to adhere to them, that hopefully we can put our dispute to rest.”
“I’ve been fighting Apple for a long time. But I’m an iPhone customer. This is an great device. I love having it. I don’t love the policies that Apple has made with respect to stores, but there’s a lot of respect of Epic towards Apple’s quality of product and focus. I hold out hope that there’s a way for Apple to get back on the right side of history here. I think this is a great time for Apple to consider doing that.”
This offers some rare optimism, given how heated their feud has been since 2020, when Epic challenged Apple’s App Store rules head-on by introducing direct payments in Fortnite. This led directly to Fortnite’s removal from iOS.
This story will be especially relevant for mobile gamers frustrated by missing out on popular titles like Fortnite. If agreements are reached fast enough, players might see it rejoin their devices without waiting much longer.
