Epic Games, the publisher behind the popular game Fortnite, has announced that the game will return to the iOS App Store in 2023. The game had previously been removed from the App Store due to its use of micropayments, which violated Apple’s in-app purchase rules. Epic Games responded by launching a legal battle against Apple that has lasted almost three years.
The return of Fortnite to iOS comes as the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) is set to go into effect, which aims to prevent the abuse of dominant positions by large companies like Apple. As a result, the next version of iOS will allow publishers like Epic Games to release their own launchers, bypassing the App Store.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has long advocated for open platforms and policy changes that benefit all developers equally. The company has also engaged in various publicity stunts, including a video parody of an iconic Apple advertisement, to challenge the idea of tech giants controlling the future. With the announcement of Fortnite’s return to iOS, Epic Games seems poised to continue this fight in the coming year.