Fortnite returns to global App Store, leaving Australia in legal limbo
The publisher’s move follows significant workforce reductions and game cancellations, while Australian courts continue to grapple with Apple’s developer terms.
Epic Games has reinstated Fortnite on the Apple App Store in most countries globally, marking a significant expansion one year after the title’s initial relaunch in the United States. The move brings the battle royale game back to iOS devices in international markets, though the service remains unavailable to Australian users due to persistent legal disputes over Apple’s developer terms.
The global rollout follows a nearly five-year ban on the platform, which originated from Epic’s high-profile legal battle with Apple. The publisher indicated it is confident in the current political and regulatory climate, banking on US federal courts to compel Apple to disclose the operational costs behind its App Store fees. Epic argues that once these costs are revealed, governments worldwide will be more inclined to reject what the company terms "junk fees."
This strategic expansion comes amidst substantial internal restructuring at Epic Games. In March, the company announced workforce reductions affecting approximately a quarter of its staff. Concurrently, Epic cancelled several game modes, including Fortnite Ballistic and Festival Battle Stage, with the Rocket Racing mode scheduled to be removed in October.
CEO Tim Sweeney cited dwindling engagement numbers for the flagship game as a driver for the renewed focus on mobile platforms. Sweeney stated that the company is in the "early stages" of returning to mobile and optimising Fortnite for the world’s billions of smartphones, noting that the industry is still in the "early days" of a battle that is only beginning to pay off for developers.
In Australia, the situation remains unresolved. Epic is urging the local Court to intervene, pointing out that Australian courts have previously found many of Apple’s developer terms to be unlawful. Despite these findings, Apple continues to enforce the terms, and Epic is now asking the Court to bring this conduct to an end in a move it claims will benefit all app developers and iOS users in the region.
