Epic Games took Apple to court, blasting them for “gatekeeping” the App Store and demanding Fortnite’s epic comeback on iPhones. The beef started when Epic added its own payment system—Apple was not amused, dropping Fortnite faster than a laggy teammate. Judges mostly sided with Apple, but said some App Store rules needed tweaking. Fortnite fans? Still left waiting. Curious what happened next, or if Fortnite will ever truly drop back in? There’s more to this saga.
Epic Games didn’t just press “Start” on a regular lawsuit—they jumped headfirst into a legal boss battle with Apple, challenging the tech giant over its App Store rules in August 2020. The conflict began when Epic, in a move that felt straight out of a speedrunner’s playbook, added its own payment system to Fortnite, bypassing Apple’s required in-app purchase system.
Apple responded with a swift “game over” by removing Fortnite from the App Store, sending millions of iOS players into a digital exile.
Epic’s main complaint? Apple’s policies were, in their view, more restrictive than a locked treasure chest, blocking other payment methods, charging a hefty 30% commission, and only allowing app downloads through the App Store. This 30% commission was a central focus in court, with Epic arguing that Apple could operate the App Store with significantly lower fees.
Apple’s rules were tighter than a locked treasure chest—30% commissions, no outside payments, and only one way in: the App Store.
Epic called this monopolistic. Apple, not known for taking hits lying down, argued their rules kept the ecosystem secure and user-friendly—think of it as a fortress, not a prison.
The battle moved to the courtroom in May 2021. After months of back-and-forth, a federal judge mostly sided with Apple, but did say Apple’s anti-steering rules (which stopped developers from even hinting at cheaper payment options) broke California law. In the wake of this, Apple won most claims in the 2021 case against Epic Games, but the legal saga was far from over.
Epic scored a small but meaningful win. Of course, the appeals process followed—Apple and Epic kept trading legal blows until April 2023, when the Ninth Circuit Court largely let the original decision stand.
Then, in January 2024, the Supreme Court decided to skip the final boss fight, declining to hear the case. The lower courts’ verdicts were now set in stone.
Significantly, by April 2025, Apple was ordered to allow third-party payment options—definitely a new power-up for developers.
Fortnite, meanwhile, remained off the iOS map, costing Epic a fortune in lost revenue. Still, Epic has plans to bring Fortnite back, but only if Apple’s future policies are truly “friction-free.”
The lawsuit’s ripple effects could open up new options for developers everywhere. Apple, for its part, is still wary, citing security risks—but the game has changed, and both sides are watching their next move.