Epic's Sweeney: Fortnite Back on iPhones in US

Fortnite will make its comeback on U.S. iOS devices and iPhones next week following a landmark court decision, according to Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney.

On April 30, a California federal court ruled that Apple deliberately violated a court mandate from the Epic v. Apple case that required Apple to allow developers to offer alternative payment options outside their apps.

Sweeney extended an olive branch to Apple in a tweet, proposing: "If Apple implements the court's fee-free, Apple-tax-free system globally, we'll bring Fortnite back to the App Store worldwide and cease all related legal actions." This comes after years of legal battles between the two companies.

Earlier this year, IGN reported on Sweeney's multi-billion dollar crusade against Apple and Google's app store policies. The Epic CEO framed these legal battles as a strategic investment in Fortnite's future, claiming the company could sustain this fight for decades.

Sweeney's persistent campaign to distribute Fortnite on mobile devices without paying platform fees is well documented. At its core, Epic seeks to bypass the standard 30% revenue cut by operating its own mobile storefront. This conflict led to Fortnite's removal from iOS in 2020.

After nearly five years, Fortnite is poised to return to American iPhones.

Sweeney celebrated the court's decision, declaring on Twitter: "NO FEES on web transactions. The Apple Tax is finished in the U.S., just like in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. Their 15-30% fees are unlawful in both regions now."

The court has referred Apple to federal prosecutors for violating its injunction. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers stated: "Apple's anti-competitive behavior won't be tolerated. This is a judicial order, not a bargaining chip. Willful violations of court mandates have consequences."

Judge Rogers singled out Apple executive Alex Roman for providing testimony that contained "blatant misrepresentations and falsehoods" regarding the company's compliance efforts.

Apple responded: "We respectfully disagree with the ruling and will comply while appealing the decision."

Epic's legal victories had previously been confined to Europe under the Digital Markets Act until this breakthrough ruling.

The Epic Games Store launched on EU iPhones and global Android devices in August 2023, offering Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys mobile. However, distribution hurdles remain - Epic reports that confusing warning screens deter up to half of potential users.

These legal battles have taken their toll. Epic conducted significant layoffs in 2023, cutting 830 jobs (16% of staff). By October, Sweeney claimed the company had stabilized financially, with Fortnite and the Epic Store achieving record engagement.