Epic's Tim Sweeney: Fortnite to Return to U.S. iPhones After Nearly 5-Year Ban

Fortnite is poised to make a triumphant return to the U.S. iOS App Store and iPhones next week, following a pivotal court ruling, as 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, mandating Apple to allow developers to offer alternative purchasing options outside their apps.

In response, Sweeney took to Twitter to propose a "peace proposal" to Apple, amidst years of legal battles. "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. This proposal comes after years of contention over the 30% store fees that Epic refuses to pay, preferring to operate through its own Epic Games Store on mobile devices without interference from Apple or Google. The conflict led to Fortnite's removal from iOS back in 2020, but now, nearly five years later, it's set to return to U.S. iPhones.

Sweeney's determination to challenge Apple and Google's app store practices is well-documented. He's invested billions in this fight, viewing it as a long-term investment in Epic and Fortnite's future. In January, IGN reported that Sweeney believes Epic can sustain this battle for decades. Following the recent court ruling, Sweeney celebrated, tweeting, "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."

As a result of the ruling, Apple faces referral to federal prosecutors for violating the court order. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers emphasized, "Apple’s continued attempts to interfere with competition will not be tolerated. This is an injunction, not a negotiation. There are no do-overs once a party willfully disregards a court order." Gonzalez Rogers also referred Apple and its vice president of finance, Alex Roman, to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt investigation, citing misleading testimony about compliance efforts.

Apple responded with a statement expressing disagreement with the decision but affirmed compliance and an intent to appeal. Meanwhile, Epic has made strides in Europe, with the Epic Games Store launching on iPhones in the European Union and on Android devices worldwide last August, featuring Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys for mobile. However, challenges persist, with "scare screens" reportedly deterring up to 50% of potential users.

Despite these legal victories and expansions, Epic has faced financial strain, evidenced by significant layoffs. In September 2023, 830 employees, about 16% of the workforce at Epic's North Carolina studio, were let go. Yet, in October of the same year, Sweeney declared the company "financially sound," citing record-breaking performance in both Fortnite and the Epic Games Store.