Fortnite Relaunches on App Store Worldwide, Excluding Australia

Fortnite has made its return to Apple’s App Store globally, with the exception of Australia. This follows a year after the game was reinstated in the US App Store, a move prompted by US Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who mandated Apple to resolve its ongoing dispute with Epic Games regarding Fortnite's availability or face court proceedings. Epic asserts that today’s relaunch is a strategic move aimed at compelling Apple to disclose its commission structure, which can differ by market based on developers' circumstances and their payment options outside of Apple's ecosystem. Epic stated, "Apple knows the U.S. federal court will force it to be transparent about how it charges its App Store fees." The company expressed confidence that once Apple is required to reveal its costs, global governments will not permit what it calls Apple’s junk fees. In its announcement, Epic also committed to challenging Apple's allegedly anticompetitive practices that restrict alternative app stores and payment options. Epic pointed to a growing global momentum against such practices, citing recent regulatory actions in Japan, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. The company criticized Apple for evading legal frameworks through various tactics. While the game is back in many regions, it has yet to return to Australia. There, Epic won a court case against Apple, which found several of the tech giant’s developer terms to be illegal. Epic elaborated that it cannot return to the Australian market under what it deems an unlawful payment arrangement with Apple. Until Apple agrees to legal payment terms, the game will remain unavailable in Australia. Epic's CEO, Tim Sweeney, shared his thoughts on X, stating, "Fortnite is back on the Apple App Store as we head into the final battle of Epic v Apple in court," highlighting concerns over Apple's inconsistent fees and features across regions. He noted that Apple has informed the Supreme Court that "Regulators around the world are watching this case to determine what commission rate Apple may charge on covered purchases in huge markets outside the United States," framing this situation as a pivotal moment against the so-called Apple Tax.