Nearly 5 Years Later, Epic Games Wins Legal Battle Against Apple

Epic Games has finally triumphed over Apple, officially paving the way for Fortnite’s return to the U.S. App Store. The battle royale is set to reappear on the platform next week.

The legal clash began in August 2020, when Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store after Epic implemented a direct, discounted payment system to bypass the iPhone maker’s 30% commission on in-game purchases. In response, Apple pulled the game from its service, igniting a lengthy courtroom showdown.

Last night, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that Apple had willfully violated a previous injunction related to anti-competitive conduct. It also found that Apple’s VP of finance, Alex Roman, blatantly lied under oath. As a result, all cosmetic items in the U.S. version of Fortnite will now be sold commission-free.

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has already celebrated the win and extended an olive branch — the company will drop all remaining lawsuits if Apple removes its mandatory commission policy in other regions.