Epic Games’ Fortnite has reclaimed its top spot on the US App Store charts, just hours after being allowed back by Apple following a five-year ban. The game was made available again through Epic Games’ Swedish subsidiary, which distributes it in the European Union.
The ban was lifted after Epic Games filed a complaint against Apple, and the judge overseeing the case suggested that Apple figure out new App Store rules or face more time in court. As part of these changes, Fortnite now includes in-game purchases that do not use in-app purchase, allowing players to buy currency and items directly from the game’s website.
Apple is still appealing the court’s ruling and has asked for a stay while the appeals process plays out. Several companies have filed amicus briefs in support of Epic Games, including Spotify, which reports an increase in iOS users upgrading to Premium. Microsoft also expressed support for enforcing the injunction through Apple’s appeal.
In other tech news, Apple is working on new chips and expected to launch an ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air later this year. The device is rumored to have a 6.6-inch screen, weighing around 180 grams, with a battery capacity of approximately 4000mAh. However, availability details remain scarce.
Additionally, Apple has announced its CarPlay Ultra feature, which requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. The feature is now available in Aston Martin vehicles and will roll out to existing models soon. WWDC, Apple’s annual developers conference, takes place from June 9 to June 13, with a keynote announcement on June 9.
Finally, OpenAI has acquired io, the hardware-based AI startup co-created by Jony Ive. The company aims to develop a family of AI devices as part of their partnership.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2025/05/21/fortnite-app-store-top-charts