Latest news with #TimSweeney
News18
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Fortnite Is Back On App Store For iPhone Users In These Countries: Know More
Last Updated: Fortnite's absence from the App Store is over after 5 years as Apple and Epic Games battle it out for payment rule changes and more. Fortnite, developed by Epic Games, has returned to the Apple App Store in the US after nearly five years. On May 20, the game became available once again on iOS devices, signaling the end of a prolonged legal battle between Epic and Apple. 'We back fam," Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), celebrating the game's return to iOS. Meanwhile, the company also confirmed the news on X with a note: 'Fortnite is BACK on the App Store in the U.S. on iPhones and iPads… and on the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the E.U! It'll show up in Search soon!" The dispute began in 2020 when Epic Games violated App Store guidelines by introducing its own payment system to bypass Apple's 30 percent commission. In response, Apple removed Fortnite from its platform, triggering a landmark antitrust case that reshaped the conversation around digital marketplace regulations. According to reports, a federal judge ruled on April 30 that Apple had violated a court order requiring it to allow greater competition in app downloads and payment systems, a decision that paved the way for Fortnite's return. The judge referred Apple to federal prosecutors to investigate possible criminal contempt. Following the ruling, Epic Games resubmitted Fortnite for review. Apple, on its part, claimed that it had instructed Epic Games' Swedish team to remove references to the US storefront from its app submission to avoid disrupting availability in other regions. Payment options are now clearly displayed in the iOS version of Fortnite, and players who choose Epic's direct payment system over Apple's in-app payments will get a 20 percent bonus in Epic Rewards. The game's return to iPhones comes shortly after Epic launched a new Star Wars-themed season on May 2. Players can now download Fortnite directly from the App Store. Once you download the game on the iPhone, you will need to install the bigger 12.95 GB update to play the popular battle royale game. Fortnite is also available for iPhone users in the United States and the European Union countries via the AltStore and Epic Games Store. First Published: May 22, 2025, 11:52 IST
Hypebeast
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
'Fortnite' Is Officially Back on the US Apple App Store
Summary Fortniteis officially back on the USAppleApp Store. Epic Gamesshared the news on X, confirming that the game is once again available foriPhonesandiPads. Meanwhile, in the EU, Fortnite is available via Epic Games Store and AltStore. AsIGNreports, iPhone and iPadForniteplayers can purchase V-Bucks through either the Epic Games Store or in-app. This marksFortnite'sreturn to the US App Store after nearly five years. In August 2020, bothGoogleand Applepulled the gamefrom its stores following an ongoing legal battle between the latter and Epic. The issue began when Epic introduced a direct payment system forFortnite'sin-game currency, V-Bucks, offering them at a lower price. The developers stated their aim was to bypass the 'exorbitant 30% fee' that Google and Apple imposed on each V-Buck purchase. In late April, a U.S. Federal District Court in California ruled that Apple deliberately violated a court order in its legal case against Epic Games. The court order required the tech giant to allow developers to offer customers different purchasing methods outside of the app. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney then announced thatFortnitewouldreturn to the US App Store in early May, but the companyclaimedthat 'Apple has blocked ourFortnitesubmission so we cannot release to the U.S. App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union.' Fortnite is BACK on the App Store in the U.S. on iPhones and iPads… and on the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the E.U! It'll show up in Search soon! Get Fortnite on the App Store in the U.S. ➡️ — Fortnite (@Fortnite)May 20, 2025
Business Insider
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Epic CEO's reaction after Fortnite dominates on the App Store after 5-year legal battle: 'Priceless'
The popular game Fortnite is back on the US App Store after a 5-year legal battle with Apple, and Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney tells Business Insider it represents a "priceless" win for app makers everywhere. While the game quickly shot to the top of the App Store's games rankings less than 24 hours after launching, its reappearance was years in the making — and costly for Epic, which makes the game. Sweeney previously told BI's Peter Kafka that his fight with Apple over in-app purchases has cost it more than $1 billion since 2020. Prior to the legal feud, Apple's App Store rules required that Fortnite players — and all other iOS users — make in-app purchases exclusively through the App Store, where Apple takes up to a 30% cut of each transaction. In the summer of 2020, Epic intentionally broke these rules, prompting Apple to remove Fortnite from iPhones and iPads, which in turn sparked Epic's lawsuit. In an email exchange with BI after Fortnite went live on the US App Store, we asked Sweeney if the protracted court battle and legal fees were worth it. "Yes," he said. "These newly recognized freedoms are priceless." "The freedoms developers have gained in the United States and Europe on iOS must be brought to the rest of the world," Sweeney told BI. "I hold out hope of Apple and Google doing that themselves, proactively, rather than being subject to waiting for different and potentially contradictory new laws to be passed around the world." Epic Games is in a similar legal battle with Google over its app store rules. Fortnite is BACK on the App Store in the U.S. on iPhones and iPads... and on the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the E.U! It'll show up in Search soon! Get Fortnite on the App Store in the U.S. ➡️ — Fortnite (@Fortnite) May 20, 2025 The US App Store approval came after US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers scheduled a May 27 hearing to address what Epic said was Apple's noncompliance with a prior injunction, questioning Apple's delay in approving Epic Games' May 9 submission for Fortnite's return to the US App Store. A representative for Epic Games declined to comment further. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Business Insider. The company has previously said its App Store rules regarding payments help ensure the safety of its users. Asked about the latest on his legal battle with Apple, Sweeney said it's ongoing. "Apple is appealing the Court's anti-steering injunction enforcement ruling made in 2025 but the Court's ruling hasn't been stayed and appeal briefings will run through August 18," he said. Spotify, Microsoft, and others backed Epic's opposition to Apple's motion to stay the court's ruling in amicus briefs filed this week, arguing that Apple's compliance with the order is beneficial to both developers and consumers.
Business Insider
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Fortnite is the No. 1 game after Apple let it back on the App Store. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney tells us it's a 'priceless' win.
The popular game Fortnite is back on the US App Store after a 5-year legal battle with Apple, and Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney tells Business Insider it represents a "priceless" win for app makers everywhere. While the game quickly shot to the top of the App Store's games rankings less than 24 hours after launching, its reappearance was years in the making — and costly for Epic, which makes the game. Sweeney previously told BI's Peter Kafka that his fight with Apple over in-app purchases has cost it more than $1 billion since 2020. Prior to the legal feud, Apple's App Store rules required that Fortnite players — and all other iOS users — make in-app purchases exclusively through the App Store, where Apple takes up to a 30% cut of each transaction. In the summer of 2020, Epic intentionally broke these rules, prompting Apple to remove Fortnite from iPhones and iPads, which in turn sparked Epic's lawsuit. In an email exchange with BI after Fortnite went live on the US App Store, we asked Sweeney if the protracted court battle and legal fees were worth it. "Yes," he said. "These newly recognized freedoms are priceless." "The freedoms developers have gained in the United States and Europe on iOS must be brought to the rest of the world," Sweeney told BI. "I hold out hope of Apple and Google doing that themselves, proactively, rather than being subject to waiting for different and potentially contradictory new laws to be passed around the world." Epic Games is in a similar legal battle with Google over its app store rules. Fortnite is BACK on the App Store in the U.S. on iPhones and iPads... and on the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the E.U! It'll show up in Search soon! Get Fortnite on the App Store in the U.S. ➡️ — Fortnite (@Fortnite) May 20, 2025 The US App Store approval came after US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers scheduled a May 27 hearing to address what Epic said was Apple's noncompliance with a prior injunction, questioning Apple's delay in approving Epic Games' May 9 submission for Fortnite's return to the US App Store. A representative for Epic Games declined to comment further. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Business Insider. The company has previously said its App Store rules regarding payments help ensure the safety of its users. Asked about the latest on his legal battle with Apple, Sweeney said it's ongoing. "Apple is appealing the Court's anti-steering injunction enforcement ruling made in 2025 but the Court's ruling hasn't been stayed and appeal briefings will run through August 18," he said. Spotify, Microsoft, and others backed Epic's opposition to Apple's motion to stay the court's ruling in amicus briefs filed this week, arguing that Apple's compliance with the order is beneficial to both developers and consumers.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why ‘Fortnite on iOS' Is Trending Amid Return to iPhone App Store
Gamers are celebrating the much-awaited return of to the iOS App Store in the U.S., causing 'Fortnite on iOS' to trend online. A globally beloved battle royale video game, Fortnite is one of the biggest hits developed by Epic Games. After its shocking exit from the Apple Store back in 2020, the game is now finally back on iPhones, following some legal hiccups along the way. Here's everything to know about the game's return to iOS. Epic Games recently announced that Fortnite is finally making its return on iPhones and iPads in the U.S. The official X (formerly Twitter) post by Fortnite on May 20, 2025, states that the game is now available on the iOS App Store, as well as the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the European Union. The CEO of Epic Games, Tim Sweeney, re-posted the tweet, proudly stating, 'we back fam.' The game's return sparked the 'Fortnite on iOS' trend online. The news comes almost five years after Apple removed Fortnite from its App Store. The decision was taken after Epic Games added an in-app payment system of its own to the game. It violated Apple's rules, which led to the Epic Games, Inc. v. Apple Inc. lawsuit in 2020. The video game developer had challenged Apple's practices of restricting in-app purchases other than those offered by Apple itself. However, a major court ruling by judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers limited Apple's control over how developers earn revenue from their apps by prohibiting the company from collecting fees on purchase transactions made outside its App Store. (via The Verge) On May 9, Epic Games resubmitted Fortnite to Apple. However, the submission was met with another hurdle, with Apple blocking the game's return to the App Store. But after some back and forth, the game made its way back to the App Store on Tuesday following a resolution between both companies. The post Why 'Fortnite on iOS' Is Trending Amid Return to iPhone App Store appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
