Fortnite Finally Makes a Return to Google Play Store After Five Years

Fortnite fans on Android can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Epic Games’ blockbuster battle royale has officially returned to the Google Play Store in the United States, marking the end of a five-year exile.

Fortnite Returns to Google Play in the U.S. | Image: Epic Games

The comeback follows Google’s compliance with a U.S. District Court injunction, a major step in the ongoing legal saga between the two companies.

Epic confirmed the news in a post on X, noting that the game’s reappearance is tied directly to the court order. While players in the U.S. can now download Fortnite directly from Google Play, the company added that global availability is still pending. “Stay tuned for news of Fortnite’s return to Google Play to the rest of the world,” Epic wrote in a post.

The game was originally removed in 2020 after Epic introduced a direct payment system that bypassed Google’s billing process. That move triggered a lengthy antitrust dispute over app store fees and distribution rules. According to reports, Epic and Google reached a settlement last week, though the terms remain undisclosed.

Interestingly, the return comes not long after Fortnite reappeared on Apple’s App Store earlier this year.

On social media, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney thanked Google “for all of their awesome support,” while Google executives Rick Osterloh and Sameer Samat responded with welcome messages.