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On May 9, 2025, Epic submitted a U.S. Fortnite build to Apple that included both Apple’s in-app purchase system and a link to the Epic Games Store. The move tested whether Apple’s newly revised rules would allow a major game to present its own checkout alongside Apple’s payment option.
At the time, Apple’s App Review decision was the immediate question. In retrospect, the episode became part of the pressure that brought Fortnite back to the U.S. App Store in May 2025 and, according to Epic, to App Stores worldwide—except Australia—on May 19, 2026.
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What Epic submitted
Epic did not submit a Fortnite version that simply replaced Apple’s payment system. The court filing describing the submission said the build included two routes:
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- A link to the Epic Games Store, where users could complete a purchase through Epic.
The filing also described an Epic offer of 20% back on purchases made through the Epic Games Store. That wording matters: “20% back” does not necessarily mean that every item was 20% cheaper at checkout. It may refer to a rewards credit or another benefit. The offer belonged to the May 2025 submission and should not be treated as a permanent or worldwide current promotion.
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- Redeemable on accounts in the United States and in U.S. Dollars.
- Gift card must be redeemed at EpicGames.com/redeem. This gift card WILL NOT work if redeemed directly on a console device (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.)
- If you play Fortnite experiences on a console device, you need to link your Epic Games account to your console account(s) so items purchased at Fortnite.com/item-shop appear across all of your linked accounts
- Requires internet connection, valid Epic account and prior acceptance of the terms
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The available evidence supports the existence of a link to Epic’s store. It does not establish that Epic’s payment processor was fully embedded inside Fortnite, nor does it verify the exact button labels, screen layout, warnings or number of taps. Those details should not be inferred from the filing.
Read the filing describing Epic’s submission, payment options and 20% back offer.
Why Fortnite disappeared from Apple’s App Store
Fortnite was removed from Apple’s App Store on August 13, 2020. Epic had introduced a direct payment option for V-Bucks that bypassed Apple’s required in-app purchase system. Apple treated that as a violation of its App Store rules and removed the game.
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Epic then sued Apple, challenging the company’s control over iOS distribution, payment processing and commissions. The litigation did not produce a complete Epic victory on all of its antitrust claims. The development most relevant to the 2025 submission was a court injunction concerning developers’ ability to direct users to alternative purchasing methods.
Fortune’s account of Fortnite’s 2020 removal and the Apple v. Epic decision hosted by California’s attorney general provide the background.
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What changed in May 2025?
On May 1, 2025, Apple revised its App Review Guidelines to permit buttons, external links and other calls to action directing users in the U.S. App Store to alternative purchasing mechanisms. Apple said the update was made to comply with a U.S. court decision.
That change made Epic’s proposed store link permissible in the relevant context. It did not turn the App Store into an automatic-approval system. Fortnite still had to pass App Review and comply with applicable technical, safety, privacy and other requirements.
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Apple’s May 1, 2025 announcement explains the guideline revision.
Was Apple legally required to approve Fortnite?
No—not automatically. The injunction and Apple’s revised guidelines changed what Fortnite could include, particularly regarding external payment links. They did not eliminate Apple’s right to conduct App Review or require Apple to approve every Epic submission without examination.
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The more precise legal question was whether Apple would apply its rules neutrally and in compliance with the injunction. A rejection based on a genuine App Review problem could be different from a rejection or delay aimed at blocking a permitted alternative-payment option.
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Contemporary coverage described the uncertainty surrounding Apple’s review.
Why the dual-payment design mattered
Epic’s submission tested whether alternative payment rights could work in practice, rather than merely exist on paper.
For Apple, the issue went beyond one game. A prominent app showing Apple IAP beside a competing checkout could demonstrate to other developers that users could be offered a meaningful choice on iOS. That could affect Apple’s control over digital payments, its relationship with developers and the economics of App Store transactions.
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For Epic, an external route could reduce dependence on Apple’s payment infrastructure, support an ongoing relationship with Epic customers and make Epic rewards or promotions available to players. Purchases routed through Epic’s store were intended to avoid Apple’s in-app purchase system, although the applicable fees and terms could vary by territory and legal arrangement.
These were strategic stakes, not all established court findings. Claims about Apple’s motives, alleged obstruction or the legality of particular fees should be attributed to the relevant party or tied to a specific court ruling.
Apple IAP versus Epic checkout
| Option | Potential advantages | Potential trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Apple IAP | Familiar Apple Account payment flow; integration with purchase history and parental controls; no need to leave the game for an external checkout. | Apple may receive a commission under the applicable commercial terms; users may not receive Epic-specific rewards or promotions. |
| Epic checkout | Potential Epic Rewards, discounts or other promotions; a direct customer relationship for Epic; possible access to additional payment methods. | May require an Epic account, browser handoff or additional authentication; refunds, support and parental-control processes may be less familiar to Apple users. |
The presence of both options did not mean that every user in every country received the same choices. Availability, fees, rewards and payment rules can differ by territory. The 20% back figure described in Epic’s 2025 filing should not be generalized into a current worldwide discount.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happened after the submission?
Fortnite returned to the U.S. App Store in May 2025 after a federal judge found Apple in violation of the relevant court order and Epic sought enforcement. The return was therefore not simply a story of Apple voluntarily changing its policy without legal pressure.
On May 19, 2026, Epic announced that Fortnite was available on App Stores around the world except Australia. Epic said it remained unwilling to return to Australia under payment terms it considered unlawful. That is Epic’s characterization, not an uncontested global legal conclusion.
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The Associated Press reported on Fortnite’s U.S. return, while Epic documented its 2026 worldwide-return announcement.
Fortnite’s current App Store status
As of the latest U.S. listing checked in August 2026, Fortnite is available for iPhone and iPad as a free download with in-app purchases. The listing identifies support for iPhone XS and newer models, the third-generation iPhone SE and newer, and specified iPad generations.
The listing showed ongoing updates, including version 41.20 in July 2026. App versions and hardware requirements can change, so the current U.S. App Store listing is the appropriate source to check before installing.
Australia remains the important geographic exception identified by Epic’s May 2026 announcement. The U.S. rules change should also not be confused with the rules in the European Union or other markets, where separate legislation and platform arrangements may apply.
What the return did—and did not—resolve
Fortnite’s return changed the practical situation for players, but App Store availability did not by itself resolve the broader Epic–Apple dispute. It does not independently establish Apple’s current commission, Epic’s current rewards rate, the final treatment of every external purchase or a complete settlement of the litigation.
The legal dispute continued beyond the app’s return. Later reporting said the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Apple’s appeal concerning contempt in the Epic litigation. The continuing proceedings show why a restored app and a finished court case are not the same thing.
Reporting on the later Supreme Court appeal provides additional context.
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