For much of the world, Fortnite’s exile from Apple’s App Store is over. Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite, has announced the game has returned to the App Store worldwide — with one major exception: Australia. The game’s relaunch on the App Store follows a nearly six-year legal battle with Apple and Google over the fees they charge for purchases in apps and games distributed through their app stores.
“Fortnite is now back on the App Store worldwide, after Apple told the U.S. Supreme Court that ‘Regulators around the world are watching this case to determine what commission rate Apple may charge on covered purchases in huge markets outside the United States,’†Epic Games said in its blog post announcing the return. “Apple knows the U.S. federal court will force it to be transparent about how it charges its App Store fees. Fortnite is returning to the App Store now because we are confident that once Apple is forced to show its costs, governments around the world will not allow Apple junk fees to stand.â€
Epic Games says it will continue to fight Apple in court over bans on alternative app stores and payment terms, calling them “anticompetitive App Store practices.†It cites laws regulators have passed in Japan, the EU and U.K., while alleging Apple has dodged them with “scare screens, fees and onerous requirements.â€
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As for Australia, Epic alleges that Apple is continuing to enforce App Store development terms there that a court has found unlawful. It’s leaving Fortnite out of the Australian App Store because it “can’t return under an illegal payment arrangement with Apple.†It’s waiting on a court decision before making any moves.
Fortnite previously returned to the U.S. App Store in 2025 after a court ruling that said Apple can’t charge a commission when apps link out for payment. It also made its return to the Google Play store in March following a similar absence.
