Fortnite Returns to U.S. Apple App Store

Fortnite has officially returned to the U.S. Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad users, marking a significant milestone after a five-year absence. Developer Epic Games celebrated the occasion with a celebratory post on X/Twitter, informing mobile gamers that they can now rejoin the beloved battle royale experience. The game’s iOS store page mirrors its original design from 2020, though its description proudly announces, “Fortnite is back!”

Fortnite is BACK on the App Store in the U.S. on iPhones and iPads… and on the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the E.U! It’ll show up in Search soon!

Get Fortnite on the App Store in the U.S. ➡️ https://t.co/HQu3pYCXFm pic.twitter.com/w74QPFFkOS

— Fortnite (@Fortnite) May 20, 2025

While some U.S. Apple users may face challenges searching for Fortnite via the App Store at the moment, Epic assures that this will resolve shortly. In the interim, you can view its restored store page here. For European users, Fortnite is now available through the Epic Games Store and AltStore.

This triumphant return to iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad brings closure to years of tension between Epic Games and Apple. The conflict began in August 2020 when both Google and Apple removed Fortnite from their respective platforms following an update that reduced V-Buck prices and introduced a direct payment system. Epic cited “exorbitant” store fees imposed by Apple and Google as the reason for this move.

Following this, a protracted legal battle kept Fortnite absent from official storefronts for millions of players. In April, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney announced that Fortnite would return to the iOS App Store in early May, thanks to a ruling from a U.S. Federal District Court in California. However, delays arose due to continued resistance from Apple, pushing the launch back slightly. Now, after half a decade, Fortnite is finally back on iOS devices.

Users downloading Fortnite on Apple phones or tablets can opt to buy V-Bucks through the Epic Games Store or via in-app purchases. For instance, purchasing the 2,800 V-Bucks pack for $22.99 grants the option to send funds directly to Epic, earning $4.60 (or 20%) back to apply toward other Epic products.

Fortnite V-Bucks purchase options. Image provided by Epic Games.

For more on Fortnite, explore the recent controversy surrounding Epic’s Darth Vader AI bot, a Star Wars-themed collaboration that sparked issues when players discovered ways to make it say explicit language. Additionally, the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) recently filed an unfair labor practice charge against Epic.