Peely, Fishstick and Aura are ready to take their fight global once again. The popular battle royale video game Fortnite is returning to the App Store in worldwide markets in the latest chapter of Epic Games’ years-long lawsuit against Apple, the video gaming company announced Tuesday.
One caveat is that Fortnite is not yet back in the Australian App Store. Epic Games said it is waiting for a court to rule on Apple’s payment terms, even though Epic Games earlier won its case.
Epic Games sued Apple in August 2020 for several reasons, sparked by Apple’s 30% commission on in-app purchases in Fortnite through its App Store. When Epic tried to introduce a direct payment option, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store. Epic Games also said Apple prevented developers from telling customers about cheaper payment options outside the App Store.
Fortnite returned to the US App Store in May 2025 after a judge in California ruled that Apple’s behavior toward web transactions was in bad faith and anticompetitive. In March, Google began returning Fortnite to its app store after reaching an agreement that lowered developer fees from 30% to 20% and also allowed Epic Games to offer non-Google payment options for customers.
Just to be clear, Fortnite is free to download on consoles, PCs and mobile devices. But within the app, customers can buy skins (player outfits), weapons, emotes, Battle Passes and in-game currency known as V-bucks.
An Apple representative didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Putting pressure on Apple
Tim Sweeney, founder and owner of Epic Games, posted on X that he is ready for the “final battle” in the long court case.
“Apple has fragmented iOS features and fees by territory, taking regulatory negotiating positions in secret, and intentionally delaying the pursuit of justice,” Sweeney said in the post.
In its announcement this week, Epic Games said it was returning Fortnite to the App Store because it believes a US federal court will force Apple “to be transparent about how it charges its App Store fees … we are confident that once Apple is forced to show its costs, governments around the world will not allow Apple junk fees to stand.”
Epic Games said that, despite regulatory laws enacted in Japan, the EU and UK, Apple has tried to skirt legislation with “scare screens, fees and onerous requirements.” Epic Games said regulators need to enforce laws to force Apple to end its tactics.
The years-long battle royale could benefit Epic Games and other merchants in the App Store, said Dmitri Williams, professor of communication at the University of Southern California.
“Tim Sweeney has done more than put his money where his mouth is,” Williams told CNET. “You get the strong sense that this is not just business for him, but actual principle in a world where consumers and developers could and should make great games at reasonable prices.”
If Epic succeeds in its challenge, it should make things better for game-makers and players alike. “Epic is not just helping their own business but forcing Apple to ease the pain on all businesses in the store,” Williams told CNET.
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Frequently Asked Questions
To the App Store in worldwide markets — except Australia, where Epic is waiting for a court to rule on Apple's payment terms.
In August 2020, over Apple's 30 percent commission on in-app purchases; Apple removed Fortnite when Epic introduced a direct payment option.
In May 2025, after a California judge ruled Apple's behavior toward web transactions was in bad faith and anticompetitive.
In March, Google returned Fortnite after agreeing to lower developer fees from 30 percent to 20 percent and allowing Epic to offer non-Google payment options.
