Epic Games chief Tim Sweeney has announced the return of Fortnite to iOS in 2023, nearly three years after the game for sale was removed from the App Store for violating the platform’s rules, sparking a lawsuit.
In a tweet, Sweeney wrote: “Next year on iOS!”.
Next year on iOS!
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) December 31, 2022
This was followed by another tweet showing a Fortnite character looking at fireworks in the form of the number 2023.
Earlier it became known that Apple plans to allow the download of applications from third-party stores on its devices in order to comply with the recently adopted European Union Digital Markets Act (DMA). By law, Epic Games could potentially bring Fortnite back to iOS without using the App Store.
Fortnite was removed from the App Store in August 2020 after Epic Games included a direct payment option in the game that bypasses Apple’s in-app purchase system, violating App Store rules. As a result, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store, blaming Epic for breaking the rules.
Fortnite’s removal from the App Store has sparked a lawsuit by Epic Games against the Cupertino-based tech giant. “We fight for open platforms and policy changes that benefit all developers equally. And it will be a hell of a battle!” Sweeney said then.
Three years later, both Epic Games and Apple will appeal the court decision, which was handed down in September 2021. According to the court’s verdict, Apple must allow developers to add links to third-party sites in applications. This paves the way for alternative payment methods that don’t require developers to use the App Store’s purchasing system.
Epic Games argues that Apple’s control over iOS and the App Store is anticompetitive, and that alternative app stores should be allowed on the iPhone. Apple, on the other hand, believes that the App Store remains a safe and secure way for developers and users, and therefore its policy should not change. Sweeney has previously called the App Store policy a disservice to developers.
Xbox Cloud Gaming has made it possible to play Fortnite for free on Android, iOS and iPadOS, bypassing the Play Market and App Store
Source: MacRumors
