Fortnite is back on mobile phones for the first time in four years after the game was removed from both the Android and Apple app stores due to heated legal battles.
Now developer Epic Games has launched its own app store, making it one of the first third-party stores to be available on iOS – but UK iPhone users will have to wait until next year to play.
Android Users can start playing immediately, but will need to download the new Epic Games Store, which also includes Fall Guys and Rocket League.
The opening of the store marks the latest chapter in a long-running battle royale between Epic and the tech giants.
Epic claimed in several lawsuits that both Google And Apple acted anti-competitively.
Fortnite was removed from both stores in 2020 when Epic stopped paying commissions on its downloads.
The company lost a court case against Apple arguing that third-party app stores should be allowed on iPhones and other devices.
However, in March a new EU law came into force that forced Apple to allow alternative stores for EU devices.
According to reports from the Guardian, Epic Games plans to bring the Fortnite app back to British iPhones in late 2025.
Multiple steps, confusing device settings and scary screens
In a blog post announcing the launch, Epic again criticized Apple and Google for their “anti-competitive” approach to app stores.
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The company also accused them of making it difficult for users to access alternative app store platforms.
“Currently, the Epic Games Store takes a long time to install on iOS and Android because Apple and Google intentionally introduce inferior installation experiences that involve multiple steps, confusing device settings, and scare screens,” Epic Games explained in the blog post.
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“We continue to fight in court and work with regulators around the world to remove the anti-competitive conditions that Apple and Google impose on developers and consumers so we can build a better store for everyone.”
Google declined to comment on the launch.
In a statement, Apple said the new EU laws “required us to open up new opportunities for developers in the EU, and we have worked to make them as easy as possible for users while trying to protect their privacy and security.”
