Apple has brought Fortnite back to the App Store

After Epic Games’ game, Fortnite, was removed from Apple’s App Store in 2020, it’s finally back. However, it’s important to remember that it’s only available again in the US for now. Bye…

The return of Fortnite marks the end of a nearly five-year ban caused by Epic Games’ implementation of a direct payment system to bypass Apple’s app purchase fees, which violated App Store rules.

Thanks to everyone who has supported the effort to open up mobile competition and #FreeFortnite from the beginning. And thanks to all those who first sided with Apple and then moved to the winning side, supporting app developers’ rights and consumers’ rights.

Epic Games has been fighting in the courts to get the popular game back on the App Store. Late last month, it scored a major victory when a U.S. court ruling forced the Apple giant to allow apps to include external payment links without charging transaction fees. And after Epic Games applied for Fortnite to be included in the US App Store, Apple finally approved it, though not without additional legal challenges and delays last week.

But just because a game has appeared in the U.S. region doesn’t mean Apple will let it immediately appear in the store in other regions as well.

The Fortnite story was, in fact, a true digital market power battle that shed light on the struggle between app developers and platform owners over control, competition, and the right to offer alternative payment options outside of closed ecosystems.

The story Apple brings Fortnite back to the App Store was first published on ITZine.ru.