In August 2020, Epic Games, the developer behind the popular game Fortnite, initiated a legal confrontation with Apple by introducing a direct payment system within the iOS version of Fortnite. This move was designed to circumvent Apple’s standard 30% commission on in-app purchases. Apple responded by removing Fortnite from the App Store, citing a violation of its terms of service. Epic Games promptly filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging antitrust violations and challenging the tech giant’s control over app distribution and payment processing on iOS devices.
The ensuing legal battle was protracted and complex. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney initially anticipated a swift resolution. In a recent interview, Sweeney expressed his expectations:
I had actually hoped that we would get an injunction against Apple blocking Fortnite and that we’d only be off for a few weeks. But the court process dragged out, and we were off for five years.
The legal proceedings culminated in a mixed ruling. While the court upheld many of Apple’s policies, it also found that Apple’s anti-steering provisions were anticompetitive. These provisions had previously prevented developers from informing users about alternative payment methods. As a result, Apple was required to allow developers to include links to external payment options within their apps.
Following this ruling, Fortnite made its return to the App Store in May 2025. Sweeney noted that since the game’s reinstatement, approximately 40% of users have opted for Epic’s direct payment system, while the remaining 60% continue to use Apple’s in-app payment processing. He attributed this to users’ existing accounts with Apple but expressed optimism about increasing adoption of Epic’s payment method:
As we get more players to associate payment methods with their Epic accounts, we’ll see a higher rate of adoption, and I would hope that it would be above 50%.
Sweeney also highlighted the strategic importance of mobile platforms for Fortnite’s future growth, emphasizing that the game’s development team is now focused on enhancing the mobile gaming experience.
The return of Fortnite to iOS devices marks a significant milestone in the ongoing discourse about app store policies, developer rights, and the balance of power within the tech industry.
