Epic Games' popular battle royale title, Fortnite, has officially returned to the U.S. Google Play Store, marking a significant development in the ongoing antitrust battles between the game developer and major tech platforms. This return follows a recent settlement in Epic's five-year legal dispute with Google over in-app purchase policies. However, the victory is tempered by a partial setback in Epic's related lawsuit against Apple, where an appeals court has rolled back some developer-friendly changes previously mandated for the iOS App Store.
The saga began in 2020 when Epic Games introduced a version of Fortnite that bypassed the established in-app payment systems on both iOS and Android. This move prompted Apple and Google to remove the game from their respective app stores, leading Epic Games to file antitrust lawsuits against both tech giants.
Fortnite's Return to Google Play
For Epic Games, the return to the Google Play Store is a clear win. This follows a U.S. District Court ruling that found Google engaged in anticompetitive behavior. Under the new settlement, Google has agreed to allow app developers to direct users to alternative payment mechanisms and has capped the fees it can charge. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney lauded the agreement as a "comprehensive solution" that reinforces Android's vision as an open platform, as he previously stated.
🥳 Fortnite is back on the Google Play Store in the U.S. following Google’s compliance with the U.S. District Court’s injunction. We’re continuing to work with Google to seek court approval of our settlement. Stay tuned for news of Fortnite's return to Google Play to the rest of… https://t.co/HgUgZofeBW
— Epic Games Newsroom (@EpicNewsroom) December 11, 2025
Apple App Store Restrictions Partially Reinstated
The situation with Apple, however, presents a more complex picture. While a previous court ruling determined that Apple was not a monopolist, it mandated that the iPhone maker must allow developers to inform users about alternative payment options outside the App Store. Apple had been actively contesting these specific terms. Today, an appeals court partially overturned these restrictions, deeming some of them "overbroad."
Crucially, the new appellate filing clarifies that Apple can instruct developers not to make external payment links more prominent than its own in-app purchase options. More significantly, the court affirmed Apple's right to charge a commission on purchases made even outside its App Store, a considerable blow to developers who had hoped to bypass Apple's fees entirely.
The full Apple ruling from the 9th Circuit Order is available for review.
