Fortnite Returns to iPhone Globally After 5-Year Ban
The popular battle royale game Fortnite is coming back to iPhones worldwide, ending a nearly five-year absence that started with a legal showdown between Epic Games and Apple. Millions of mobile gamers can now rejoin the action, though Australia remains the lone exception.
After five years away from iPhones, Fortnite is finally returning to the App Store in most countries around the world.
The game disappeared from Apple devices back in 2020 when Epic Games and Apple clashed over app store fees and policies. Epic made Fortnite available again in the US last year, and now players in nearly every other country can download it too.
Epic Games says it feels confident enough about changing regulations and court decisions to bring the game back globally. The company is betting that US courts will soon force Apple to reveal exactly what it costs to run the App Store, which could lead to lower fees for all app developers.
The timing matters for Epic. In March, the company laid off about 25% of its staff and shut down several Fortnite game modes including Ballistic and Festival Battle Stage. Another mode called Rocket Racing will close in October.
CEO Tim Sweeney pointed to the mobile market as crucial for Fortnite's future. He noted that the company is still in the early stages of reaching the billions of smartphone users worldwide and optimizing the game for mobile play.
The Ripple Effect
This comeback could mean more than just good news for Fortnite fans. Epic's legal battles have pushed important questions about app store policies into courtrooms and legislatures around the world.
If Epic succeeds in forcing more transparency around app store fees, it could benefit thousands of other app developers who've felt squeezed by high commission rates. Lower fees might mean more innovation and better apps for everyone.
Australia stands alone as the one country where Fortnite won't return yet. Epic says Australian courts have already found many of Apple's developer terms unlawful, but Apple keeps enforcing them anyway. The company is asking courts to force Apple to stop and create rules that help all developers and users.
For now, gamers in most countries can celebrate having one of the world's most popular games back in their pockets, five years after it vanished.
More Images
Based on reporting by Engadget
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
Spread the positivity!
Share this good news with someone who needs it
