2025-05-01T01:05:00Z

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In a significant development for gamers and the tech industry alike, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced on Wednesday that the widely popular game Fortnite will make its much-anticipated return to the Apple App Store next week. This announcement comes on the heels of a long-standing legal dispute between Epic Games and Apple, which has seen Fortnite repeatedly removed from the platform due to disagreements over developer fees and anti-competitive practices.

Sweeney took to his social media platform, X, to unveil the news, stating, "We will return Fortnite to the US iOS App Store next week." He accompanied this news with a proposal aimed at resolving the ongoing disputes: "Epic puts forth a peace proposal: If Apple extends the court's friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide, we'll return Fortnite to the App Store worldwide and drop current and future litigation on the topic." This proposal reflects a potential thawing of relations between the two companies, which have been embroiled in legal battles for over two years.

The backdrop to this announcement includes a recent ruling from the US District Court for the Northern District of California, which found that Apple had acted in bad faith regarding web transactions, further solidifying the grounds for Epics case against the tech giant. Sweeney referenced this ruling in his communications, emphasizing that "Apple's continued attempts to interfere with competition will not be tolerated." This ruling is crucial, as it underscores the court's ongoing scrutiny of Apples practices regarding its App Store and payment systems.

The legal conflict itself dates back to 2021, when Epic Games decided to challenge Apples control over app distribution and payment methods by integrating a direct payment system into Fortnite, circumventing Apples fees. While Epic did not emerge victorious in that initial court battle, it did secure an important concession: a federal judge ordered Apple to dismantle its anti-steering barriers that prevented developers from directing users to alternative payment methods. This ruling was a pivotal moment, as it aimed to increase competition and reduce costs for developers.

Despite winning key points, Apple subsequently appealed the decision, engaging in protracted legal deliberations throughout 2022 and into 2023. Ultimately, while Apple won its appeal, the court maintained the earlier ruling regarding the anti-steering provisions, effectively compelling Apple to allow developers to inform users of alternative payment options.

The saga took another turn when Epic Games pursued additional legal action in 2025, asserting that Apple had failed to comply with the previous court ruling. The judge agreed with Epic's assertion and mandated that Apple adhere strictly to these new rules, which include not imposing fees for payment methods outside the App Store and ensuring developers are free to communicate about these options.

In addition to its ongoing feud with Apple, Epic Games is also pursuing legal action against tech giants Google and Samsung, seeking similar concessions for users of the Google Play Store. This broader strategy aims to reshape the landscape of mobile app distribution and payment structures, ensuring that developers have the freedom to choose how they monetize their products.