Fortnite Makes Its Comeback to the iOS App Store in the U.S. Following a Five-Year Break

Fortnite has made its official comeback to the iOS App Store in the United States after a five-year absence. Apple has approved the re-launch of Epic Games’ highly renowned battle royale game on Tuesday, allowing iPhone users in the U.S. to download it once again since its removal in 2020.

Epic Games announced on May 9 that it had sent Fortnite to Apple for review, hopeful for the game’s return. While Apple generally examines most app submissions within 24 hours, this process was prolonged—likely due to the prolonged and contentious legal dispute between the two companies.

Just last week, the situation appeared grim when Epic asserted that Apple had declined its submission to bring Fortnite back to the App Store. Apple did not publicly address those claims. However, it seems that the matter has been resolved privately. As of May 20, Fortnite is available once more for download on iOS. The version history on its App Store listing simply notes: “Fortnite is Back!”

The return of Fortnite marks the latest episode in a lengthy legal dispute between Apple and Epic Games. This conflict started in 2020 when Epic rolled out a direct payment option in Fortnite, circumventing Apple’s in-app purchase system and its 30% commission charge. In response, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store, citing a breach of its guidelines. Epic then initiated a lawsuit, sparking a high-profile antitrust case.

Since that time, the legal proceedings have seen several significant developments. In 2021, a federal court determined that Apple could not stop iOS apps from linking to outside payment options—although it also found Epic in violation of contract and mandated the company to pay Apple its due commission. Recently, a judge ruled Apple in contempt of court for breaching an order aimed at reducing anti-competitive behavior, leading to a potential criminal contempt investigation for the company.

With Fortnite now back on iOS, it seems Epic Games has made some progress in the ongoing dispute. Although the overall legal struggle is far from resolved, Apple’s recent challenges indicate that the tech giant may be losing control over some of its long-standing App Store policies.