After a lengthy legal confrontation, Fortnite makes its long-awaited return to the US App Store. The game was taken down in August 2020 because of a self-implemented payment system that defied Apple’s regulations, which led to Epic Games filing a lawsuit accusing Apple of monopolistic practices.

Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, took a moment to appreciate everyone who backed the company during this process.

“Thanks to everyone who supported the effort to open up mobile competition and #FreeFortnite from the very beginning,” said Sweeney. “And thanks to all of the folks who initially sided with Apple then later came around to the winning side, supporting app developer rights and consumer rights.”

According to Joost van Dreunen, a game business professor, this incident marks a pivotal shift in the balance of power where developers will gain more influence against established distribution models.

“This is a clear win for Epic Games,” he explained, underlining the significance of the victory that challenges Apple’s strict control over its App Store.

As of now, Fortnite is accessible only on iOS in regions outside the United States, while Apple remains subject to legal scrutiny in this ongoing dispute.