Fortnite's return to iPhone and iPad has seen the game storm to the top of the App Store charts — at least in the U.S., where Epic Games' battle royale is finally available once again.
The return of Fortnite to the iOS App Store this week follows a five-year hiatus, during which Epic Games and Apple fought a lengthy legal battle.
Fortnite was booted from the iPhone App Store worldwide back in 2020 after Epic Games deliberately added its payment system into the game that bypassed Apple's usual 30% cut. Five years and more than $1 billion of missed revenue later, Fortnite is finally back — and its alternative payment system remains in place.
More than a day later, Fortnite continues to sit at the top of the U.S. Top Free Games chart on the iOS App Store, ahead of new release Game of Thrones: Kingsroad and other evergreen titles such as Roblox, Clash Royale, and Call of Duty Mobile.
Apple had continued to resist Fortnite's return despite a U.S. judge ultimately ruling this month that the iPhone giant must allow alternative payment options without penalty.
Fortnite subsequently spent days in limbo as Epic Games' submission to return was initially ignored by Apple, then denied, prompting the prospect of a fresh legal tussle.
"We back fam," Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney wrote on social media this week as Apple, under further pressure to allow Fortnite's return, finally relented.
"Thanks to everyone who supported the effort to open up mobile competition and #FreeFortnite from the very beginning," he continued. "And thanks to all of the folks who initially sided with Apple then later came around to the winning side, supporting app developer rights and consumer rights."
Apple has not publicly commented on Fortnite's return, and questions remain over what exactly will happen next. The iPhone maker is still seeking to appeal the U.S. judge's decision, and Fortnite remains unavailable from the App Store outside the U.S.
For now, however, Fortnite is back — and back on top. W.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
