Latest news with #USAppStore
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
Apple REALLY doesn't want you playing Fortnite on iPhone
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Fortnite, one of the most popular video games of all time, is available on practically every platform you can think of. Every platform, except Apple's. If your birth year starts with the digits '197' or lower, or gaming is one of the many dark arts of computing you've never had much time for, then you're probably sat there thinking "Why did you misspell fortnight?" In which case, here's why this matters. Fortnite is a free-to-play "battle royale" video game developed by Epic Games that sees 100 players duke it out until only one remains. It's a cultural phenomenon, and has been since its original release in September 2017. It's launched the career of streamers who play it, crossed over with just about every IP you can imagine, hosted virtual concerts, and, more importantly, generates billions of dollars in revenue for Epic Games each year. It's a game that practically prints money, and for the longest time, Epic Games and Apple were happy to mutually benefit from it. Right up until Epic Games tried to sidestep Apple's 30% App Store tax, anyway. Since then, Apple has been providing Epic Games with the cold shoulder, blocking Fortnite from its App Store entirely. And just as things were seeming to thaw, with Fortnite on the precipice of returning to iOS and iPadOS devices, Apple has pulled the plug once again. And this time, Fortnite is down worldwide on iOS, not just in the states. This company cat fight all began in 2020, when Epic Games attempted to subvert Apple's cut of the profits by implementing its own payment option — cutting out the middleman to directly profit from the sale of battle passes, skins, and emotes from Fortnite's in-game store. None-too-pleased, Apple prompty gave Fortnite the boot, cutting iPhone and iPad users out of the action. A long-running legal battle ensued, with Epic Games desperate to find a return to Apple's App Store, and reconnecting with rich vein of capital in the process. During that time, it would seem that Fortnite was named after the total amount of time that could pass before the two began butting heads all over again. However, an April ruling prohibited Apple from restricting Epic's use of external payment systems, blowing the doors wide open for Fortnite's return to the App Store — with Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney proclaiming on X: "We will return Fortnite to the US iOS App Store next week." Unfortunately, after resubmitting the game to the US App Store, Epic Games has announced in a post on X that "Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission so we cannot release to the US App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union," adding: "Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it." At the time of writing, Fortnite remains completely absent from iOS and iPadOS App Stores, and the Epic Game Store in the EU, where the game made its return last year thanks to EU regulations that forced Apple's hand on allowing third-party app stores. In the meantime, those looking for their Fortnite fix on mobile can do so through cloud gaming platforms like Nvidia GeForce NOW, Amazon Luna, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. However, while Apple will likely have to eventually relent on Fortnite access for EU gamers once again, the game's availability in the U.S. is once again up in the air. For those stateside, the only thing we can say for certain is this: Apple really doesn't want you playing Fortnite on iPhone — and its legal squabbles with Epic Games may be far from over. What links GTA 6, Cyberpunk 2077, and Baldur's Gate 3? They could all be at risk of being banned. 89 million Steam accounts could be at risk after a third-party data breach. Here's how to protect your account Play 'FBC: Firebreak' first, if your laptop can handle a return to Control's Oldest House
Mint
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Fortnite is finally back on iPhones and iPads in US: Here's how to download
After a five-year absence, the online multiplayer game Fortnite is finally back on the US App Store, following a prolonged legal battle with Apple. Early on Wednesday, Fortnite announced that its app could now be downloaded from the Apple App Store on iPhones and iPads in the US. Furthermore, the game will be available to download from the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the European Union. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney while reacting to Fortnite making a comeback on US App Store wrote on X (formerly Twitter), 'Thanks to everyone who supported the effort to open up mobile competition and #FreeFortnite from the very beginning. And thanks to all of the folks who initially sided with Apple then later came around to the winning side, supporting app developer rights and consumer rights.' Fortnite made its way back to the App Store after US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers told Apple to approve the app submission from Epic Games or face returning to court to explain the legal basis for not doing so. Notably, Gonzalez Rogers, in an 80-page ruling last week, stated that Apple cannot restrict developers from adding links or buttons directing users to make external payments and that the company cannot impose a fee or commission on these payments. Following the ruling, Apple updated its App Store guidelines, stating that, although it strongly disagrees with the court order, it will comply with it and also file an appeal. Since then, Apple has also approved an updated app from Spotify, the audio streaming giant, with external payment links for purchasing subscriptions. However, when Epic Games resubmitted the Fortnite app to the US App Store, Apple informed the company that it would not take any action on its application until after a court hears an appeal for a partial injunction on the new order. To download the Fortnite app on iPhones and iPads, users can simply head to the App Store and search for the popular game. However, given that Fortnite was only approved for the App Store a few hours ago, it may not be visible to all users just yet.
Engadget
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Apple claims it's not blocking Epic from offering Fortnite in the EU
After claiming that Apple was blocking Epic from offering Fortnite in both the US App Store and the Epic Games Store in the European Union, Apple now says it wasn't, according to a report from Bloomberg . A spokesperson told Bloomberg that Apple "did not take any action to remove the live version of Fortnite from alternative distribution marketplaces," and that the company wants Epic's European branch to resubmit the latest game update for publishing, "without including the US storefront of the App Store so as not to impact Fortnite in other geographies." 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 has blocked our Fortnite submission so we cannot release to the US App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union. Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it. — Fortnite (@Fortnite) May 16, 2025 While that sounds like a denial of wrongdoing, it does imply Apple specifically doesn't want Epic to relaunch Fortnite on the US App Store. The company submitted Fortnite for publishing on May 9 following a victory in court that forced Apple to allow developers to support alternative payment methods for apps on the web. At the time, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney was hoping to use the change as justification to bring Fortnite back entirely, after only offering the game through streaming platforms on mobile. Fortnite was originally removed from the App Store because Epic started directing players to circumvent Apple's in-app payment system to buy in-game currency. The move was part of a larger plan from Epic to push back on Apple and Google's tight control over their respective platforms and storefronts. That plan has partially worked. Thanks to Epic's court win, multiple app developers are now offering alternative payment methods in their apps, but it obviously hasn't changed how Apple feels about the game developer.
