Epic Games’ Victory: Fortnite Now Available on US Apple App Store
Fortnite, the popular video game, is back on the US Apple app store after a nearly five-year absence due to a dispute with Apple over in-app payment rules. The game was removed from the platform in 2020 for violating Apple’s policies by launching its own in-app payment system. This move triggered a legal battle between Epic Games and Apple.
The ban has been lifted, allowing Fortnite to be available on both the US app store and the Epic Games Store, as well as AltStore in the European Union. In a post announcing the return of the game, Fortnite stated it would soon appear on search results.
This development marks a significant victory for Epic Games, which had been locked in a lengthy legal battle with Apple. Joost van Dreunen, a games business professor at NYU Stern, described the move as a “clear win” for the company, stating that it has effectively forced open a door that was previously shut.
The return of Fortnite to the app store signals a shift in the balance of power between creators and platform holders. With millions of registered players worldwide, Fortnite is one of the most popular games globally. Its online battle royale mode, where up to 100 players compete to be the last one standing, is its most popular feature.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0711mrl470o