Fortnite is set to make a triumphant return to the U.S. iOS App Store and iPhones next week, following a pivotal court ruling, announced by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney. On April 30, a U.S. Federal District Court in California determined that Apple had willfully violated a court order in the Epic Games v. Apple case, which mandated Apple to allow developers to offer alternative purchasing options outside of their apps.
In response, Sweeney took to Twitter to propose a "peace proposal" to Apple, with whom Epic has been embroiled in legal battles for years. "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," Sweeney stated.
Sweeney's relentless fight against Apple and Google over app store policies has been well-documented. He has invested billions of dollars in this struggle, viewing it as a long-term investment in the future of Epic and Fortnite. In a January interview with IGN, Sweeney emphasized that Epic is prepared to continue this battle for decades if necessary.
The core of the dispute is Epic's refusal to pay the standard 30% store fees imposed by Apple and Google on mobile game revenue. Epic aims to operate Fortnite through its own Epic Games Store on mobile devices, bypassing these fees. This conflict led to Fortnite being blocked from iOS in 2020, but now, nearly five years later, it's set to return to U.S. iPhones.
Sweeney celebrated the recent court ruling on Twitter, proclaiming, "NO FEES on web transactions. Game over for the Apple Tax. Apple’s 15-30% junk fees are now just as dead here in the United States of America as they are in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. Unlawful here, unlawful there."
Apple's violation of the court order has led to U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers referring Apple and its vice president of finance, Alex Roman, to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt investigation. Judge Rogers criticized Apple's compliance efforts as "replete with misdirection and outright lies." Apple, in response, expressed disagreement with the decision but stated they would comply and appeal.
Despite multiple costly legal battles, Epic has made significant strides, particularly in Europe where the Digital Markets Act has supported their cause. In August last year, the Epic Games Store launched on iPhones in the EU and on Android devices globally, featuring games like Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys for mobile. However, the implementation of these games on mobile has faced challenges, with "scare screens" deterring up to 50% of potential users, according to Epic.
Amidst the legal and operational struggles, Epic has faced significant layoffs. In September 2023, 830 employees, approximately 16% of the workforce at the North Carolina studio, were let go. Despite these setbacks, Sweeney reassured in October last year that Epic remains "financially sound," with both Fortnite and the Epic Games Store achieving new records in "concurrency and success."
