Fortnite’s Epic Return: Apple and Epic Games Reunite on iOS

Back in the tumultuous days of 2020, Apple made headlines by kicking Fortnite out of its prestigious iOS App Store, all because of Epic Games‘ bold attempt to sidestep the hefty store fees. Fast forward three and a half years, and it appears that the tech giant and the gaming behemoth have buried the hatchet, with Apple finally extending an olive branch to Epic by reinstating its developer account.

Apple’s recent overhaul of its terms and services has paved the way for game streaming services to grace the iOS platform, alongside a slew of other changes mandated by the European Union. This momentous shift means Epic Games can now strut back onto the scene with Fortnite in tow, ready to make a triumphant return and then some.

Following the swift confirmation of Fortnite’s imminent return to iPhones later this year, Epic Games wasted no time in announcing the next phase of its comeback tour, taking to Twitter to declare:

“We’re opening up new avenues for developers across all platforms, and we couldn’t be more thrilled about what lies ahead… including bringing the Epic Games Store to iOS in Europe. Developer account secured, let’s do this!”

Expressing his own sentiments on this groundbreaking development, Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney chimed in, acknowledging Apple’s gesture of goodwill amidst their ongoing legal skirmish, as Apple grants Epic Games Sweden AB a developer account for operating the Epic Games Store and Fortnite in Europe under the Digital Markets Act.

https://twitter.com/EpicNewsroom/status/1758516979705557241

While the revival of Epic Games on iOS appears to be initially limited to Europe, this marks a significant stride forward after nearly four years, promising to reunite one of the gaming world’s juggernauts with its fervent Apple fanbase. Here’s hoping that Apple chooses to extend its newfound leniency globally, ushering in a new era of cooperation and innovation.