Epic Games has announced that it has officially submitted Fortnite for review to the App Store, marking its anticipated return. This news comes via the official Fortnite account, stating simply, “We’ve submitted Fortnite to Apple for review so we can launch on the App Store in the U.S.” This is significant as Fortnite was removed from the App Store in August 2020 after Epic introduced its own in-app purchase system aimed at circumventing Apple’s substantial fees, often referred to as the “Apple Tax.” A recent court ruling has similar implications for Apple’s conduct. A judge mandated that Apple cease its practice of imposing fees on in-app purchases made outside the App Store.
In light of this, Epic’s CEO, Tim Sweeney, indicated that Fortnite will return globally if Apple implements the ruling worldwide. However, Apple has since filed an appeal, requesting a temporary stay to halt any changes in how it operates its payment systems. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers previously issued a contempt order against Apple for not complying with her 2021 ruling against anti-competitive actions. She stated that Apple was ignoring her demands to allow alternative payment methods.
Apple’s defense argued that any change to the current model would result in significant financial losses and asserted that the restrictions imposed were unwarranted. In a related move, Apple recently announced changes that would allow developers to link to external payment methods in their apps, aligning with Judge Gonzalez Rogers’ original ruling. However, these changes still involve a 27% commission on transactions. In the opening of conversations around payment methods, Epic has pointed out that Apple’s environment has begun accommodating more competitive practices, thereby benefiting developers and consumers alike.
The landscape is evolving, making the outcome of this case critical for both companies and their users.