Fortnite, one of the world’s most well-known battle royale games, is officially returning to the App Store all over the world except Australia, marking a historical turning point in the legal battle with Apple that has been going on for years.

With the official announcement made by Epic Games, iOS users can download the game directly from Apple’s official store after a long time. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney defines this move as not just a comeback, but the beginning of the “last war” that will destroy Apple’s board rates, called the “technology tax”, on a global scale.

The company is taking this strategic step by relying on the momentum created by the legal processes in the US Supreme Court and global regulations.

Five Years of Fortnite Longing Ends

The tension between Epic Games and Apple started in 2020, when Epic added a direct payment formula to Fortnite and Apple kicked the game out of the store. After years of legal struggle, the first big break occurred in May 2025, when Fortnite returned to the US App Store. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers’ threat to speed up the legal process and call Apple executives to court made the technology giant step back and approve the game in America.

The global step taken today expands this return to almost all world markets. Epic Games is turning the statement in Apple’s defense to the US Supreme Court, “Regulatory institutions around the world are monitoring this case to determine how much control Apple can get in major markets,” into a strategy in its favor. The company believes that the transparency process, which will begin with the court order, will reveal the artificial costs behind the up to 30% fees that Apple receives from in-app purchases.

Ninth Circuit Court Decision Changes Stability

In late April, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated a stay that had delayed Apple from complying with rules governing App Store prices. The case was handed over again to Judge Gonzalez Rogers to determine exactly how much money Apple can receive in purchases made through foreign relations.

Epic Games management states that they are confident that the federal court will force Apple to provide cost transparency. According to the company, once Apple’s store operating costs and the hidden prices it charges developers are clearly revealed, governments and regulators around the world will not allow these high committee rates to continue. Therefore, Fortnite’s return to the App Store stands out as a tactical step taken to hit Apple in its own field on the legal front.

Global Regulations Are Behind Epic Games

Apple’s monopolistic walls are being shaken by legal regulations not only in America but also in many parts of the world. Epic Games; It follows the momentum created by legal regulations in giant markets such as Japan, the European Union and the United Kingdom.

Claiming that technology giant Apple puts forward warning screens, additional prices and harsh conditions that scare users in order to avoid the items in these regions, Epic Games emphasizes that it will continue its efforts until the obstacles to alternative application stores and alternative payment techniques are completely removed.

Why Was Australia Excluded?

The only major market left out in this massive wave of Fortnite’s global comebacks is Australia. Epic Games states that it won the court process in Australia and that the local court found many articles in Apple’s developer agreements illegal.

However, according to the allegations, Apple continues to apply these strict rules in the Australian market, despite the court findings. Epic Games is refusing to return to the Australian App Store under a payment arrangement it calls illegal. The company is waiting for the Australian courts to issue a definitive order that will force Apple to comply with the law, and until this decision comes, Australian iOS users cannot access Fortnite through official channels.