Fortnite is back on the US App Store after being removed and is now available outside the Galaxy Store.

Fortnite returned to the App Store for iPhone and iPad users in the United States after a prolonged absence, resolving a major dispute between Epic Games and Apple. The announcement of its return was made by Epic Games on Monday.

Check out the company’s post on X (previously known as Twitter).

Fortnite has made a return to the App Store in the U.S. for iPhones and iPads, as well as on the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the USA. You can find it soon through Search. Download Fortnite from the U.S. App Store.

The change occurred following additional legal pressure. Epic recently sought court intervention to compel Apple to make the game available, alleging that Apple was not complying with a previous court order. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers made it clear that Apple needed to resolve the matter or send a representative to testify in court.

Why did Fortnite get removed from the App Store?

The trouble started in 2020 when Epic took on Apple by introducing a different payment method in Fortnite, bypassing the App Store and avoiding the 30% fee Apple typically charges developers.

The response was quick: the game was taken down from the App Store, leaving millions of iPhone and iPad users unable to play. Epic filed a lawsuit against Apple for monopolizing, leading to a prolonged legal battle.

Justice later ruled that Apple must permit external payment systems, leading to partial changes by the company. Epic accused the tech giant of circumventing the court’s decision, prompting an expedited process in May for Fortnite’s reentry into the American store.

Not currently accessible on the Galaxy Store.

Epic continues to exclude Fortnite from the Galaxy Store, Samsung’s app store, despite a partial win against Apple. This decision is due to the Auto Blocker policy of the One UI 6 interface, which prevents sideloading of apps, a practice that Epic believes is crucial for a more open internet.

The two companies had a strong relationship, with Fortnite being temporarily exclusive to Galaxy Note 9 on Android in 2018. Samsung capitalized on this by offering exclusive skins, contests, and gifts to Galaxy users.

The novel experienced a shift in atmosphere when Epic expressed dissatisfaction with the Auto Blocker feature being enabled by default. In response, Epic removed all of its Galaxy Store games in protest last year, and has maintained this stance since then.

What about the continent of Europe?

Epic announced that Fortnite will be available on other stores in the European Union, including Epic Games Store and AltStore, apart from the US. This became feasible due to the Digital Markets Act, compelling Apple to permit third-party stores on their platforms.

Apple has denied blocking Fortnite access in the EU but has not commented on the recent case until now.

How can I download Fortnite immediately?

Fortnite is currently available on the App Store in the United States and can be easily found by searching on iPhone or iPad. In Europe, the game can be downloaded from new alternative stores. While the official return to the App Store in Brazil has not been confirmed, it may happen soon.

Fortnite is compatible with the iPhone 16 pro max.

Brazilians can currently access Fortnite on Android through the Epic Games App, as well as on consoles and PCs. The game is anticipated to be officially re-released on national iOS in the upcoming weeks as legal progress continues.

Information from O Globo and Sammobile was used.