What to know

  • Fortnite will return to the iOS App Store in the United States next week after being removed in 2020.
  • This follows a court ruling requiring Apple to change its App Store rules.
  • Epic Games proposes to end all legal disputes if Apple applies the new rules globally.
  • Players will buy in-game currency through Epic’s website, not the App Store.

Fortnite is set to return to the iOS App Store in the United States next week. The game has been unavailable on iPhones and iPads since 2020, when Apple removed it after Epic Games allowed players to buy in-game currency directly, bypassing Apple’s payment system. This led to a lengthy legal battle between Epic Games and Apple.

Recently, a court ruled that Apple must change its App Store policies. The judge found Apple in violation of a previous injunction and ordered the company to stop restricting developers from telling users about alternative ways to make purchases outside the App Store. Apple can no longer control how developers inform users about these options, nor can it charge fees or collect commissions on purchases made outside the app.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced that Fortnite will be submitted to the US iOS App Store next week. He also offered a proposal to Apple: if Apple extends the new, less restrictive rules to all countries, Epic Games will bring Fortnite back to iOS worldwide and drop all ongoing and future lawsuits against Apple.

Under the new arrangement, Fortnite players on iOS will not be able to buy V-bucks, the game’s currency, directly through the app. Instead, the app will direct players to Epic’s website, where they can make purchases without Apple taking a commission. This change is possible because of the court’s decision, which forces Apple to allow such external links and purchase options.

Fortnite has remained playable on iOS devices through cloud gaming services, but the native app has not been available for nearly five years. With this development, players in the US will soon be able to download and play Fortnite directly from the App Store again. The return of Fortnite depends on Apple’s compliance with the court’s ruling and whether the company will extend these changes beyond the US.

Via: theverge