Epic's Tim Sweeney: Fortnite Set to Return to U.S. iPhones After Nearly 5 Years

Fortnite is set to make a triumphant return to the U.S. iOS App Store and iPhones next week, following a pivotal court ruling. Epic Games' CEO, Tim Sweeney, announced this development on April 30, after a U.S. Federal District Court in California ruled that Apple had willfully violated a court order in the Epic Games v. Apple case. This order mandated Apple to allow developers to provide alternative purchasing options outside of their apps.

In a tweet, Sweeney extended an olive branch to Apple, proposing a "peace proposal." He stated, "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 underscores Epic's ongoing battle against Apple's app store policies, a conflict that has seen Epic invest billions in legal battles against both Apple and Google.

Sweeney's fight to bring Fortnite back to mobile devices without paying the standard 30% store fees has been a long and well-documented struggle. Epic's goal is to operate Fortnite through its own Epic Games Store on mobile devices, bypassing the fees imposed by Apple and Google. This dispute led to Fortnite's removal from iOS back in 2020, and now, nearly five years later, it is poised to return to U.S. iPhones.

The court's decision has significant implications, with Sweeney celebrating the ruling by stating, "NO FEES on web transactions. Game over for the Apple Tax." He further emphasized that Apple's fees are now considered unlawful in the U.S., mirroring the situation in Europe under the Digital Markets Act.

Apple's violation of the court order has led to U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers referring Apple and one of its executives, Alex Roman, to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt investigation. Judge Rogers criticized Apple's attempts to comply with her injunction as filled with "misdirection and outright lies." Apple, in response, expressed strong disagreement with the ruling but confirmed it would comply while planning an appeal.

Epic's legal victories have primarily been in Europe, where the Epic Games Store launched on iPhones and Android devices last year. However, getting games like Fortnite running on mobile devices remains challenging due to various deterrents that can discourage up to 50% of potential users.

Despite the financial strain and significant layoffs, including the loss of 830 jobs at Epic's North Carolina studio in September 2023, Sweeney remains optimistic. He stated in October last year that the company was "financially sound," with Fortnite and the Epic Games Store achieving new records in user engagement and success.