Epic Games has marked a significant milestone in its ongoing battle with Apple, launching the Epic Games Store app on iOS in the European Union and bringing Fortnite back to the iOS App Store in the United States.
This development, driven by legal rulings and regulatory changes, signals a shift in the mobile app distribution landscape, with implications for developers and gamers worldwide.
Legal Battle Recap: Epic vs. Apple
2020 - Origins of the Epic-Apple Dispute
The conflict began in August 2020 when Epic Games introduced a direct payment system in Fortnite, bypassing Apple's 30% in-app purchase fee.
This led to Fortnite's removal from the App Store and a high-profile antitrust lawsuit.
2021 - Partial Victory for Epic
In 2021, a U.S. court ruled that Apple could not prevent developers from adding links to external payment options, though it did not find Apple to be a monopoly. This decision set the stage for future changes in App Store policies.
2023 - Appeals and Supreme Court Petition
In April, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals largely affirmed the 2021 ruling, upholding the injunction against Apple's anti-steering policies but rejecting Epic's broader antitrust claims.
The injunction was stayed in July, pending Apple's Supreme Court appeal.
In late September, Epic filed a cert petition with the Supreme Court, seeking to allow developers to direct iPhone users to payment options outside Apple's ecosystem.
Justice Elena Kagan rejected an immediate request to enforce the 2021 injunction in August, leaving Apple's rules intact pending the Court's decision.
👉 Learn More: Epic Games Asks Supreme Court to Revisit Apple App Store Fee Dispute
2024 - Supreme Court Decision and Compliance Dispute
In January, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear appeals from both Epic and Apple, finalizing the 2021 ruling and enforcing the injunction to allow developers to link to alternative payment options.
👉 Learn More: Supreme Court Declines to Hear Apple-Epic Games Case
In March, Epic accused Apple of non-compliance with the injunction, citing a 27% fee on external payments and restrictive policies that undermined the ruling's intent.
Epic urged Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to hold Apple in contempt.
Amid this dispute, Apple briefly terminated Epic's Sweden developer account, disrupting plans for an EU app store and Fortnite's iOS return.
Finally, following pressure from EU regulators, Apple reinstated the account.
👉 Learn More: Apple's Ban on Epic's Account Derails EU Store and Fortnite iOS Return
April 2025 - Apple Found in Violation
Judge Rogers ruled that Apple willfully violated the 2021 injunction, citing anticompetitive practices.
The ruling extended the injunction, prohibiting Apple from collecting fees on third-party storefronts or restricting external links, and referred the case for possible criminal contempt proceedings.
May 2025 - Fortnite Returns to iOS
Following the April 2025 ruling, Epic is to relaunch Fortnite on the U.S. iOS App Store, incorporating alternative payment options that bypassed Apple's fees, marking a significant milestone in the dispute.
Regional Launches and Regulations
United States: Fortnite's Return
Epic Games' founder and CEO, Tim Sweeney, has announced on his Twitter that Fortnite will be available on the iOS App Store with alternative payment options soon, bypassing Apple's fees.
However, the Epic Games Store app remains unavailable on iOS due to Apple's restrictions on competing app stores.
Epic plans to launch Epic Webshops in June 2025, offering developers a 0% fee on the first $1 million in revenue per app annually, followed by a 12% fee.
👉 Learn More: Epic Expands Mobile Game Store with Developer iOS Fee Support
European Union: Epic Games Store on iOS
In the EU, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) has allowed the Epic Games Store app on iOS since August 2024, enabling direct downloads of games like Fortnite, Fall Guys, and Rocket League Sideswipe.
This regulatory framework mandates Apple to permit alternative app stores, setting a precedent for other regions.
Global Expansion Plans
Epic Games has announced plans to expand the Epic Games Store to the UK and Japan in the second half of 2025, driven by local regulations like the UK's Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act.
Availability in other regions will depend on similar regulatory developments.
Editor's Comments
Epic Games' return to iOS is a landmark moment in the fight for a more open mobile ecosystem.
The combination of legal victories in the U.S. and regulatory pressures in the EU highlights the growing scrutiny of Apple's App Store monopoly.
This development not only benefits Epic but also sets a precedent for other developers seeking fairer terms. Looking ahead, the expansion of alternative app stores could democratize app distribution, though Apple's resistance and potential appeals may prolong the conflict.
The industry should watch closely as regulations in regions like the UK and Japan evolve, potentially reshaping mobile gaming for years to come.
👉 Mobile Game Insights: Will Fortnite Mobile Return to the TOP After Apple's EU Policy Change?
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