Fortnite is finally back on the iOS App Store in the U.S. after 5 years of legal dispute

Fortnite has made its return to the iOS and iPadOS Apple App Store in the United States, ending a five-year absence following its removal in 2020. U.S. iPhone and iPad users can now once again download Fortnite for free from the official App Store. Epic Games’ decision to introduce its own in-app payment system in 2020, sidestepping Apple’s 15–30 percent commission, initially triggered the game’s removal. Apple delisted Fortnite and Epic halted support for iOS and iPadOS, prompting a protracted legal conflict between the two companies.

Following a U.S. District Court ruling, which required Apple to allow alternative payment mechanisms and questioned the continuing ban, pressure increased for Fortnite’s reinstatement. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers specifically asked Apple to justify the ongoing block as of May 19, bringing additional scrutiny to Apple’s App Store practices.

While Fortnite is now available for mobile players in the U.S., it remains absent from App Stores in regions like Australia, where separate legal proceedings are still unresolved. It's also worth noting that for users in the European Union, Fortnite is also available through third-party app stores like AltStore.