Epic Games has returned Fortnite to Apple’s App Store worldwide except in Australia as legal battles continue between the two companies [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The game first vanished from the App Store in 2020 after Epic added an alternate payment option within Fortnite to bypass Apple’s 30% in-app commission fees, which Epic deems unlawful and anticompetitive [2, 3, 4].

Epic has challenged Apple since 2020 over the commission rate, arguing it constitutes an unfair "Apple Tax" that should be regulated globally. An Epic statement said, "We are confident that once Apple is forced to show its costs, governments around the world will not allow Apple junk fees to stand" [1]. Fortnite reappeared on the U.S. App Store in May 2025 following a favorable court ruling, allowing Epic to expand its rollout worldwide except for Australia [1, 4, 5].

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney described Fortnite's return as the "beginning of the end of the Apple Tax worldwide," citing growing worldwide regulatory scrutiny of Apple’s App Store fees. He said, "Apple has now told the Supreme Court, ‘Regulators around the world are watching this case to determine what commission rate Apple may charge on covered purchases in huge markets outside the United States.’" [2]

However, Fortnite remains absent from the Australian App Store. While Epic has won court rulings against Apple’s developer terms there, Apple continues enforcing terms Australian courts found unlawful [1, 2, 5]. Epic is seeking further court orders to end what it calls Apple’s "unlawful conduct" in Australia and allow Fortnite’s return [2, 5].

Amid the ongoing legal and regulatory pressures, Epic cut more than 1,000 jobs and discontinued some Fortnite game modes due to declining engagement and macroeconomic uncertainty [1, 5].

The latest global re-release of Fortnite on Apple platforms, excluding Australia, marks a significant moment in Epic’s multi-year fight against Apple’s control over app payments and fees. Epic is expected to continue its court efforts in Australia while pursuing regulatory developments worldwide.

The next scheduled legal proceedings or rulings in Australia have not been announced.