Fortnite is poised to make a triumphant return to the U.S. iOS App Store and iPhones next week, following a landmark court ruling, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced. On April 30, a U.S. Federal District Court in California ruled that Apple had willfully violated a court order in the Epic Games v. Apple case. This order mandated Apple to allow developers to provide alternative payment options for in-app purchases.

In response to the ruling, Sweeney took to social media to propose a "peace proposal" to Apple, with whom Epic has been embroiled in legal battles for years. "If Apple extends the court's friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide, we'll return Fortnite to the App Store worldwide and drop current and future litigation on the topic," Sweeney stated.

The ongoing feud between Epic and tech giants Apple and Google has been extensively documented. At its core, Epic aims to circumvent the standard 30% store fees on mobile game revenue by operating Fortnite through its own Epic Games Store, free from the oversight and fees of Apple and Google. This conflict led to Fortnite's exclusion from iOS in 2020, but now, nearly five years later, the game is set to return to U.S. iPhones.

Sweeney has been vocal about his determination to challenge Apple and Google's app store practices, describing his efforts as a long-term investment in Epic and Fortnite's future. In January, he told IGN that Epic could sustain this fight for decades, having already spent billions on the legal battle.

Celebrating the recent court victory, Sweeney tweeted, "NO FEES on web transactions. Game over for the Apple Tax. Apple’s 15-30% junk fees are now just as dead here in the United States of America as they are in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. Unlawful here, unlawful there."

As a result of Apple's non-compliance with the court's order, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has referred Apple and one of its executives, Alex Roman, to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt investigation. Judge Rogers criticized Apple's attempts to "interfere with competition" and highlighted the seriousness of violating a court injunction.

Apple responded with a statement expressing strong disagreement with the decision but affirmed its intent to comply while pursuing an appeal.

Prior to this ruling, Epic's successes were primarily confined to Europe through the region's Digital Markets Act. In August last year, the Epic Games Store launched on iPhones in the EU and on Android devices worldwide, featuring Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys for mobile. Despite these advancements, Epic has faced challenges in getting its games running smoothly on mobile platforms, with user deterrents like "scare screens" impacting user engagement.

Throughout this legal and operational struggle, Epic has not been immune to financial pressures, resulting in significant layoffs. In September 2023, 830 employees, representing about 16% of Epic's workforce, were let go from the North Carolina studio. However, Sweeney reassured in October last year that the company remained "financially sound," with both Fortnite and the Epic Games Store achieving new records in "concurrency and success."

Epic's Tim Sweeney is determined to defeat Apple and Google, however long it takes. Photo by SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg.

Fortnite is finally set to return to iPhones in the U.S., nearly five years after the game was pulled. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images.