Fortnite disappeared from Apple’s (AAPL) App Store in August 2020 as game developer Epic Games prepared for a legal battle with the iPhone maker. Now, nearly five years later, Fortnite is back for iOS users after years of court cases forced Apple to allow the popular battle royale game back on the App Store.
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This isn’t just a “Victory Royale” for Epic Games, but also for other developers who have been frustrated by how Apple controls its hardware ecosystem. The court case opened the way for other developers to avoid Apple’s 30% transaction fee on iOS apps. After Epic Games won its court case, several other companies, including Amazon (AMZN) and Spotify (SPOT), updated their apps to allow payments not subject to Apple’s fees.
In Epic Games’ case, the battle with Apple didn’t end just because it won the court case. Apple initially rejected the developer’s app submission, delaying the release of Fortnite on iPhone. However, more threats of legal trouble caused the App Store owner to change its tune. As a result, Fortnite is back on iOS devices in the U.S.
Epic Games CEO Celebrates on Social Media
The return of Fortnite to iOS resulted in celebrations from iPhone owners on social media. Tim Sweeney, founder and CEO of Epic Games, thanked users via a post on X, formerly Twitter. He said, “Thanks to everyone who supported the effort to open up mobile competition and #FreeFortnite from the very beginning.”
Additionally, Sweeney thanked “all of the folks who initially sided with Apple then later came around to the winning side.” He also highlighted that the return of Fortnite to the App Store was a win for both developer and consumer rights.
How to Invest in Epic Games
Epic Games is a private company, meaning traders can’t take a direct stake in it. Instead, they might consider a stake in other companies that have invested in Epic Games. A few examples include Sony (SONY), Tencent (TCEHY), Disney (DIS), and BlackRock (BLK). Investors can compare these shares below.
See more Epic Games investor stock comparisons
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