Latest news with #EpicRewards
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Fortnite returns to iPhones in the US after five-year ban
After a nearly five-year absence, Epic Games ' wildly popular battle royale game Fortnite is once again available on Apple's App Store in the United States. The game returned to iOS devices on Tuesday, marking the end of a lengthy legal battle between the two tech giants. Apple removed Fortnite from its platform in 2020 after Epic Games deliberately violated App Store policies by implementing its own payment system to circumvent Apple's 30% commission fee. The move sparked a high-profile antitrust lawsuit that has reshaped digital marketplace regulations. "We back fam," declared Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney on social media platform X, celebrating the game's return to iOS. The game's return follows an April 30 ruling where a federal judge determined Apple had violated a court order requiring the company to allow greater competition for app downloads and payment options. The judge referred Apple to federal prosecutors for a potential criminal contempt investigation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [Click Here] 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software Expertinspector Click Here Undo The iOS version of Fortnite now prominently displays payment options, including a 20% bonus in Epic Rewards when using Epic's direct payment system rather than Apple's in-app purchases . Fortnite's return to iPhones comes shortly after Epic launched a new Star Wars-themed season on May 2. Players can download the game directly from the App Store, with an initial small download followed by a larger 12.95GB update when first launching the application. The game is also available through the Epic Games Store and AltStore in both the United States and European Union. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Express Tribune
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Fortnite returns to iOS App Store after Apple delays Epic Games' resubmission
Fortnite officially returned to the US iOS App Store on May 20, 2025, ending a long-running dispute between Epic Games and Apple. The popular battle royale game had been absent from Apple's platform since August 2020, when Epic removed it in protest of Apple's commission fees on in-app purchases like V-Bucks. The legal battle culminated on May 1, 2025, when a judge ruled against Apple, ordering the company to stop imposing commissions on in-app purchases via web links. Epic Games founder Tim Sweeney celebrated the decision, promising Fortnite would return to the App Store within a week. However, Apple's app review process delayed the game's return. Despite Apple's claim that most app submissions are reviewed within 24 hours, Epic's Fortnite resubmission was blocked for nearly five days. Epic later revealed Fortnite would remain offline worldwide on iOS until Apple allowed the updated version. The dispute continued publicly until May 19, 2025, when a judge warned Apple to resolve the issue promptly or face further court action. Following this, Fortnite passed Apple's review and was reinstated on the US iOS App Store. The latest Fortnite update encourages players to purchase V-Bucks directly through Epic Games rather than Apple, offering 20% back in Epic Rewards credits for in-app purchases. This shift marks a significant win for Epic in its ongoing battle over app store commissions and developer control. With Fortnite's return, iOS players can once again access the game and its latest seasonal content after nearly five years of absence. The resolution also signals potential changes in app store policies regarding in-app purchases and developer rights.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Epic Games offers 20% back in rewards, Eyes Fortnite's return to iOS in the US
Image via Epic Games In a move that could reshape in-game purchase dynamics, Epic Games has announced a major upgrade to its rewards program, offering players 20% back in Epic Rewards for all purchases made via Epic's own payment system. The offer applies across popular titles like Fortnite, Rocket League, and Fall Guys, and spans multiple platforms including PC, iOS, Android, and the web. The timing of this update is significant, as Fortnite prepares for its long-awaited return to Apple's App Store in the United States. Operation Sindoor 'Pakistan army moving its troops in forward areas': Key takeaways from govt briefing 'Pak used drones, long-range weapons, jets to attack India's military sites' 'Attempted malicious misinformation campaign': Govt calls out Pakistan's propaganda While Epic's battles with Apple have played out in courtrooms for years, the latest turn appears to favor Epic - enough for the company to resubmit Fortnite for review by Apple. A bigger slice for players, but not Apple This revamped rewards initiative is designed to incentivize players to bypass third-party payment processors like Apple's in-app system. Players who opt to purchase V-Bucks or other in-game items through Epic's own portal will now receive 20% of their spend back in Epic Rewards, a sizable increase from the previous 5%. These rewards can then be used for future purchases within Epic's ecosystem, including new games on the Epic Games Store. However, players won't earn any rewards if they complete transactions through Apple or other third-party payment systems. The underlying message is clear: Epic is encouraging its user base to steer clear of Apple's payment platform, especially as it prepares to re-enter the iOS market in the US after being removed in 2020. Epic's decision to boost its rewards offering coincides with a recent legal win, where a court ruled that Apple could not prohibit app developers from guiding users toward alternative payment options. While Apple largely won the broader case, this one provision has opened a strategic doorway for Epic. To sweeten the deal further, Epic has also extended the 20% rewards to all purchases made via the Epic Games Store until August 31 - even for third-party titles. That means users eyeing popular titles from other developers can also benefit. Whether or not Apple approves Fortnite's return, Epic's message is loud and clear: players should buy direct. For frequent Fortnite shoppers and loyal Epic Games fans, it's a welcome bonus. For Apple, it's another thorn in a long-standing rivalry. With Fortnite's iOS relaunch likely just around the corner, Epic has fired yet another shot in the ongoing battle for digital storefront supremacy.
Engadget
09-05-2025
- Business
- Engadget
Epic has submitted Fortnite to the US App Store
Epic has officially submitted Fortnite to the US Apple App Store. If the game returns, it'll be the first time in nearly five years that the battle royale shooter will be available on iOS devices. This is happening after a judge ruled that Apple must stop collecting fees for purchases made outside of the App Store. Epic celebrated the ruling by announcing Fortnite's imminent return, along with changes to its sales platform aimed at developers and publishers. The company will not charge a commission of any kind to publishers for the first $1,000,000 in revenue from an app per year. Additionally, Epic announced the formation of standalone webshops, offering another way for devs to avoid Apple's exorbitant App Store fees. The shops are powered by Epic Games Store and offer a platform for "out-of-app purchases, as a more cost-effective alternative to in-app purchases." It also announced a higher rate of Epic Rewards when using its proprietary payment system. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has stated that the company would return the game to the App Store worldwide, so long as Apple extends the court's ruling across the globe. We don't know where Apple stands on that one, but the company did appeal the ruling and filed an emergency motion to ask the federal appeals court to put a pause on any changes to how the App Store operates and collects fees. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Apple's Motion to Stay is a last ditch effort to block competition and extract massive junk fees at the expense of consumers and developers. Since the contempt of court decision was issued by the District Court, Apple has faced a surge of genuine competition as developers have… — Epic Games Newsroom (@EpicNewsroom) May 8, 2025 Epic responded to this move by calling it a "last ditch effort to block competition and extract massive junk fees at the expense of consumers and developers." Some companies, like Spotify, have already submitted updates that would let US customers pay outside the App Store. Additionally, a group of developers have banded together to file a class action suit against Apple. The suit alleges that they have lost large amounts of money due to Apple's failure to comply with the original court order that ordered it stop collecting fees for purchases made outside the App Store.
Engadget
09-05-2025
- Business
- Engadget
Epic launches a reward program to lure you away from the App Store
Now that Apple has to stop collecting fees on non-App Store purchases, Epic is pouncing with a new incentive. Starting today, you'll get 20 percent back in Epic Rewards when using the company's payment system for in-app purchases in Fortnite , Rocket League and Fall Guys . The offer isn't limited to the App Store, so you'll get the same 20 percent reward on PC, Android and the web. The reward balance will arrive 14 days after your purchase. You can redeem Epic Rewards inside the company's games or on the Epic Games Store. PC gamers who use Epic's Store also get 20 percent back on all purchases. However, unlike the in-app purchase program, that incentive only runs for a limited time. It expires on August 31. The rewards follow a legal ruling in Epic's favor. Last week, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, a federal district judge in Northern California, said Apple violated a previous ruling from 2021. That four-year-old injunction required the iPhone maker to let App Store developers direct users to alternative payment systems, bypassing Apple's 30 percent fees. However, after the 2021 ruling, Apple charged a 27 percent commission on external payments. (It was a lower 12 percent for iOS Small Business Program members.) The company also showed "scare screens," discouraging users from using third-party payment systems due to decreased privacy and security. The judge scolded Apple in her ruling, saying it knew what it was doing and "at every turn chose the most anticompetitive option." After the ruling, Epic quickly announced that Fortnite would return to the App Store. Epic said on Friday that it submitted the game for review on Apple's storefront.
