Why Was Fortnite Removed from the App Store? A Deep Dive into the Epic Games vs. Apple Legal Battle
In August 2020, Fortnite, one of the world’s most popular battle royale games, was suddenly removed from Apple’s App Store. This dramatic move wasn’t due to a technical error or a drop in popularity — it was the result of a legal showdown between Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite, and Apple Inc., one of the world’s most powerful tech companies.
What Triggered the Conflict?
The core issue stemmed from Apple’s in-app purchase (IAP) system. Apple requires all digital purchases made within iOS apps to go through its payment system, from which it takes a 30% commission — a fee that many developers have long criticized as excessive.
In defiance of this policy, Epic Games secretly introduced its own direct payment system into Fortnite’s iOS version, allowing users to bypass Apple’s commission and pay Epic directly. This move blatantly violated Apple’s App Store guidelines, which clearly prohibit alternative payment systems.
Within hours, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store, prompting Epic to file a lawsuit against Apple in U.S. federal court. Epic claimed that Apple’s App Store policies were monopolistic and anti-competitive, essentially locking developers into an unfair ecosystem.
The Legal and Industry-Wide Implications
Epic’s lawsuit was more than just a reaction to Fortnite’s removal — it was a calculated legal and public relations campaign. Epic even released a parody video titled “Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite,” mimicking Apple’s iconic “1984” ad to portray Apple as the new tech overlord.
The case quickly drew global attention, becoming a symbol of the ongoing debate around platform fees, developer freedom, and digital monopolies. It also sparked broader conversations about:
- Whether Apple’s and Google’s app stores function as monopolies
- If developers should have alternative payment options
- How much control platforms should exert over third-party software
Governments, regulators, and tech watchdogs in the U.S., EU, South Korea, and beyond began to scrutinize app store practices more closely. In some countries, such as South Korea, laws have since been passed requiring Apple and Google to allow third-party payment options.
Outcome of the Lawsuit
In 2021, a U.S. district court judge ruled partially in favor of Apple, stating that the company was not a monopoly. However, the judge also ruled that Apple must allow developers to direct users to alternative payment options outside the App Store — a major shift from Apple’s longstanding policy.
Both Apple and Epic appealed the ruling. As of mid-2024, Apple has largely maintained its control over in-app purchases within the App Store, although developers now have limited options to include “outbound links” to external payment methods in certain regions.
Fortnite remains unavailable on the iOS App Store, though users can still play it on iPhone through cloud gaming platforms like NVIDIA GeForce NOW.
Broader Impact on the App Economy
The Fortnite case has had a lasting impact on the app ecosystem:
- Pressure on Apple and Google to reduce platform fees and increase flexibility for developers.
- Emergence of third-party platforms and alternative stores, especially in regions pushing for more open ecosystems (e.g., the EU’s Digital Markets Act).
- Increased developer awareness and unity, as more companies — including Spotify, Match Group, and Telegram — voiced support for Epic’s stance.
Conclusion
The removal of Fortnite from the App Store was more than a clash between two corporate giants — it was a flashpoint in the global debate over the future of mobile platforms. While the legal battle may not have yielded all the changes Epic Games hoped for, it undeniably pushed Apple, developers, and regulators to confront long-standing tensions in the app economy.
With continued pressure from governments and growing public discourse, the app store landscape is likely to evolve — and the Fortnite saga will be remembered as a catalyst for that change.