When Will ‘Fortnite’ Return to iOS? The Wait Is Nearly Over

For five years,
Fortnite
players who wanted to log into the game from their Apple products were out of luck. Apple, fiercely protective of its App Store and
in-game purchase options
, nixed the game from iOS back in 2020.

However,
Fortnite
maker Epic Games never gave up on trying to get its game back on the operating system.

So when will it be back on iOS? Luckily for players and fans the world over, the wait is almost over. Maybe. Here’s what we know about the roadblocks to returning, Epic’s promise, and how the game is keeping people happy even after eight years.

The bad news for iOS
Fortnite
players came in August 2020 as Apple decided to remove the game from the App Store. At the time,
CNN
reported that the option to remove Fortnite had implications that reached much further than the game itself.

It reflected a battle between game developers and Apple that had persisted, where developers believed Apple held too tight of a grip on in-game options and, specifically, the ability to purchase through the game without going through Apple.

The outlet adds that Epic had encouraged users to purchase in-game currency directly from Epic.

This circumvented the 30 percent profit that Apple usually earned on in-game purchases when iOS users bought through their Apple accounts. Apple then removed
Fortnite
from the App Store, prompting a landmark antitrust case (
Epic Games v. Apple
) along with initiatives from Epic and other gaming companies to counteract what they referred to as “monopolistic” actions by the major tech corporation.

The court mandated that Apple must discover a method to enable players to make purchases within iOS games bypassing Apple’s system.

On April 30, 2025, the U.S. Federal District Court located in California ruled that Apple deliberately breached a court order in the
Epic Games v. Apple
case necessitating it to provide alternate buying choices, and
IGN
indicates that the firm will now be handed over to federal prosecutors for contravening the court order.

In early May 2025, Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic, announced via X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) that the game would return to iOS.
next week
This suggests it could be around early to mid-May.

Epic planned to re-launch
Fortnite
On iOS, following the injunction that concluded Apple had breached a court order, this led to the possibility as stipulated.
IGN
. Apple quickly requested an appeal to halt the ruling, according to
Fortnite Mobile News
shared by Tim on X (formerly Twitter).

Nevertheless, Epic maintains that they still intend to reintroduce the game to iOS and continue progressing accordingly. No specific release date has been announced yet for this relaunch.
Fortnite
On iOS, but Tim guarantees it will be “coming soon.”

Certainly, despite the legal showdown with Apple, Epic was actively working on delivering content to gamers using different platforms.

The
Fortnite
Crossover events are iconic, where the development team collaborates with prominent brands and enterprises to introduce unexpected characters, skins, music, and various accessories for players. Previous crossover initiatives have featured items from
Godzilla
, Marvel, Sabrina Carpenter, Snoop Dogg, along with numerous others.

For example: In May 2025, as legal proceedings seemed to reach a peak between Epic and Apple, the company issued ”
Galactic Battle II
.”

This crossover, representing the latest in a long line of similar events, continues the trend.
Star Wars
crossover universes for Epic and
Fortnite
, introduced an entirely new realm of antagonists, personas, outfits, and additional content.

Although the final outcome between Apple and Epic still appears uncertain and hard to forecast, circumstances currently appear to be leaning towards the advantage of the game developer. This struggle extends beyond just their fight for permission to sell in-app currency.

The core of this conflict revolves around the extent of control a platform such as Apple should wield over the games it distributes. How this case concludes could impact not only Apple but also Android and platforms similar to Steam.

Despite everything, Epic has kept rolling out remarkable collaborations and updates such as the “Galactic Battles” pack, showing that nothing can deter them from catering to their customers.

It’s not even a major showdown against a technology giant.