Epic Games Wins Lengthy Court Battle Against Apple, Fortnite On iOS Hits US Next Week

For almost five years, Epic Games has been in a lengthy back & forth battle with Apple in the courtroom. This stemmed from decisions by the Fortnite developer to avoid many of the predatory policies on the App Store which resulted in Apple removing the battle royale from its platform. Since then, we’ve seen the game return in other forms like NVIDIA GeForce Now & Xbox Cloud Gaming.

The legal battle has also recalibrated many policies that Apple had in place. We saw this with the introduction of streaming apps with direct support on the App Store. Additionally, even Fortnite made its return to the storefront; at least in European markets. Apple in a more recent iOS update even reveals that game emulators are now acceptable on its App Store as well.

From a new announcement this week, Epic Games has officially won its half decade quarrel with Apple. According to new court documents, Apple is in no position to dictate developers on payments outside of its app or inject a fee on said payments. The motion also rules that Apple cannot interfere with users consumer choice on or outside of apps as well.

“Imposing any commission or any fee on purchases that consumers make outside an app, and as a consequence thereof, no reason exists to audit, monitor, track or require developers to report purchases or any other activity that consumers make outside an app,” the document reads. “Restricting or conditioning developers’ style, language, formatting, quantity, flow or placement of links for purchases outside an app.

“Prohibiting or limiting the use of buttons or other calls to action, or otherwise conditioning the content, style, language, formatting, flow or placement of these devices for purchases outside an app. Excluding certain categories of apps and developers from obtaining link access. Interfering with consumers’ choice to proceed in or out of an app by using anything other than a neutral message apprising users that they are going to a third-party site.”

On X, Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney announced that Fortnite is to return to the App Store in the coming week. The new victory under Epic Games’ belt also welcomes a new program that issues new earners complete ownership of the first $1 million generated on its platform. “Starting in June 2025, for any Epic Games Store payments we process, developers will pay a 0% revenue share on their first $1,000,000 in revenue per app per year, and then our regular 88%/12% revenue share when they earn more than that.”

Previously, Epic Games ‘Epic First Run’ initiative offered developers on its platform a window to comfortable collect earnings for half a year before the 88%/12% policy went into effect. This resulted in bigger turnout for the creators and opened more revenue as Epic Games Store reached a broad audience. You can read the full report by heading here.

Are you surprised by the turnout for Epic Games in the courthouse?

Source: United States District Court, Epic Games