Fortnite returns to iPhone iOS

Epic Games said on May 19 that Fortnite had returned to Apple’s App Store worldwide, reopening iPhone and iPad distribution nearly six years after Apple removed the game in August 2020. Apple’s U.S. App Store now lists Fortnite as available for download from Epic Games Inc., and Epic’s support pages tell iPhone and iPad users they can install the game directly from the App Store. The return lands while Epic and Apple are still fighting in court over App Store rules and fees. Epic framed the latest stage of that fight as the “final battle” in a May 19 post, while court records show a separate Ninth Circuit case between the companies remained active in 2026. ### When did Fortnite disappear from iPhones in the first place? (epicgames.com) Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store in August 2020 after Epic added its own in-app payment option inside the game, bypassing Apple’s payment system. That move triggered litigation that has stretched from federal district court to the Ninth Circuit and into later appeals and related proceedings. (epicgames.com) The original Northern District of California case was filed on Aug. 13, 2020, according to CourtListener’s docket for Epic Games, Inc. v. Apple Inc. The Ninth Circuit later issued its opinion in July 2023, and a newer appellate docket shows the dispute was still generating filings as of April 28, 2026. ### Is Fortnite really back on the App Store now? (techbooky.com) Epic’s own announcement said Fortnite was “back on the App Store worldwide,” and Apple’s App Store pages currently show live Fortnite listings, including in the United States and India. Epic’s support article also says iPhone and iPad users can download and play Fortnite through the App Store. (courtlistener.com) MacRumors, citing Epic’s announcement, reported that the company said the game had returned in every country except Australia. Epic’s public post did not present the move as a settlement; it paired the relisting with more criticism of Apple’s commission practices and with the ongoing court fight. ### Why is Australia treated differently? (epicgames.com) Epic said on May 19 that Fortnite was back on the App Store worldwide “except Australia.” In the same post, Epic tied the relisting to Apple’s argument to the U.S. Supreme Court that regulators outside the United States were watching the case and App Store commission rules. (macrumors.com) Epic did not, in the materials reviewed here, give a fuller public explanation for Australia’s exclusion. Apple’s App Store pages and Epic’s support documentation confirm current availability in multiple countries, but neither source in this search set spells out a separate Australia-specific reason. ### Does this mean the Epic-Apple fight is over? (epicgames.com) Court records say no. The Ninth Circuit docket for Epic Games, Inc. v. Apple Inc., case 25-2935, shows the appeal was filed on May 7, 2025, and the last known filing listed by CourtListener was April 28, 2026. Epic’s language also says no. The company said the game’s return came as the “final battle approaches,” and Reuters reported on May 19 that Epic signaled confidence in a favorable outcome while the lawsuit continued. (apps.apple.com) ### Where can iPhone users get Fortnite now? Apple’s U.S. App Store listing shows Fortnite as a free download for iPhone and iPad, with Epic Games Inc. listed as the developer. (courtlistener.com) Epic’s help page says iOS and iPadOS users can also play through the Epic Games Store Mobile app, AltStore PAL, or cloud-streaming options, depending on region. The next public milestones are likely to come from two places: App Store availability by country and new court filings in Epic Games v. (epicgames.com) Apple. CourtListener shows the appellate case remained active into late April 2026, and Epic’s May 19 post said the legal fight was still underway. (courtlistener.com) (apps.apple.com)