Fortnite Returns to iOS in Australia After Court Overturns Apple Ban

Fortnite on iOS in Australia

Fortnite is set to return to iOS devices in Australia, nearly five years after its removal from the App Store. The comeback follows a landmark Australian Federal Court decision that overturned Apple and Google’s ban on the game and the Epic Games Store.

The ban dates back to August 2020, when Epic Games introduced its own in-app payment system, bypassing Apple’s 30% commission fee. This move led Apple to remove Fortnite from the App Store, and shortly after, Google followed suit with the Google Play Store.

While Android players still found ways to access the game outside Google Play, the ban kept Fortnite off iOS in Australia for almost half a decade.

That situation has now changed. On August 12, 2025, Epic Games announced on X that "The Epic Games Store and Fortnite will come to iOS in Australia!" The company further explained that the court found "Apple and Google abuse their control over app distribution and in-app payments to limit competition." Epic also noted there were “2,000+ pages of findings” to review, but celebrated the ruling as a win for both developers and consumers in Australia.

As reported by Financial Review, Federal Court Justice Beach concluded that both Apple and Google’s dominance in app distribution reduced competition, likely forcing developers to pay higher commission fees. The judge also determined that Apple had "substantially lessened competition" by blocking native app distribution outside the App Store. However, he dismissed allegations of "unconscionable conduct" and breaches of consumer law.

Apple, unsurprisingly, responded with disagreement. In a statement to Financial Review, the company argued it faces "fierce competition in every market" and highlighted its investments in making the App Store "the safest place for users to get apps."

In recent months, Fortnite has returned to iOS in regions like Japan, Brazil, Europe, and the U.S., and now Australia joins that list. While players in the UK are still waiting, Epic has signaled plans to reintroduce Fortnite there later this year once new digital market regulations take effect.