Fortnite has long been absent from mobile platforms due to legal battles with Apple and Google, but a return is on the horizon very soon.
Fortnite’s mobile absence opened the door for other titles to impress on mobile devices, but that has not impacted the game’s popularity, with the Epic Games title continuing to go from strength to strength and enjoying some of the best collabs the world of gaming has ever seen.
If you’ve been away from the game since Fortnite left mobile or are looking forward to playing on the go, we’ve got all the details you need.
When Does Fortnite Mobile Come Back?
No specific date for the return of Fortnite to ios devices has been revealed, with the only details coming after Epic Games’ CEO Tim Sweeney stated it would be available “next week.”
The comment was posted to X on May 1, so Fortnite is expected to return to ios mobile devices sometime between May 5 and May 11th. However, until this is officially announced, the date could be pushed back, delayed, or generally subject to change.
It’s been a long wait for ios owners, with four years having passed since Fortnite was initially removed from iPhones, iPads, and similar devices.
Why Did Fortnite Leave Mobile?
It’s been a long journey to bring Fortnite back to mobile devices, especially ios, and comes after a long, drawn-out legal battle between app developers and Apple, the latter accused of holding a monopoly on the market by requiring a share of any profits and not allowing other storefronts to be used.
Epic Games opened the lawsuit against Apple four years ago, and, in September 2021, judges initially ruled in Apple’s favor in nine out of 10 counts, with that decision appealed by Epic Games and Apple.
In December 2023, a jury ruled in Epic Games’ favor against Google in a similar case, then in 2024, the EU and UK enacted legislation that forced Apple to alter its terms of service, paving the way for Fortnite to return, and a similar return is now set for the United States.
What Was Decided?
The key parts of the legal outcome were the rulingthat Apple had violated its injunction and was issued further restrictions, the most important being the effective removal of Apple’s 30% in-app purchase fee.
Apple has since updated its US App Store policies, allowing developers to include links to external payment methods, although the outcome is subject to an appeal.
For now, though, Fortnite will be returning to Apple devices soon, and an Epic Games App could also be arriving for mobile devices soon.
Now you’ve read about Fortnite’s imminent return to Apple devices, take a look at all the free skins you can get your hands on and every reward provided by the Chapter 6 Season 3 Battle Pass.
Will you play Fortnite on mobile when it returns? Is this a good outcome, or will there be negative consequences? Let us know your thoughts in the Insider Gaming Forums.
