Fortnite’s return to the iPhone and iPad saw Game Storm at the top of the App Store chart, at least in the US.
Fortnite’s return to the iOS App Store this week followed a five-year hiatus, during which time it was a grand game and a long legal battle between Apple.
Fortnite was launched from iPhone App Stores around the world in 2020 after intentionally adding an epic game to the game that bypassed Apple’s normal 30% cut. After over five years of missing out on revenues of over $1 billion, Fortnite is finally back. Its alternative payment system continues.
More than a day later, Fortnite continues to sit at the top of the iOS App Store’s top free games chart ahead of the new releases Game of Thrones: Kingsroad and other evergreen titles such as Roblox, Clash Royale and Call of Duty Mobile.
Apple continued to resist Fortnite’s return despite a US judge ultimately deciding this month that the iPhone giant must allow alternative payment options without penalty.
Fortnite then spent the next few days on Rimbo as the Epic Games submission to return was initially ignored by Apple, and was then rejected, prompting a fresh prospect of legal disputes.
“We Back Fam” and Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney ultimately relented on social media this week as Apple under further pressure to allow Fortnite’s return.
“We would like to thank everyone who supported us in our efforts to open the mobile competition and #freefortnite from the start,” he continued. “And I would like to thank all those who first sided Apple. Then later came to the winning side and supported the rights of app developers and consumers.”
Apple has not publicly commented on Fortnite’s return, and questions remain as to what will happen next. iPhone manufacturers are still trying to appeal US judge decisions, and Fortnite remains unavailable from the App Store outside the US
But for now, Fortnite is back. W.
Tom Phillips is the news editor for Passthecontroller. You can contact Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
