Epic Games brought Fortnite back to Apple’s App Store on May 19, 2026. Australia remained excluded until an October 21 announcement following a sweeping Federal Court ruling ordering Apple to open its iOS platform to rival marketplaces and payment systems.
Epic Games launched a direct-payment option inside the game in 2020 to bypass Apple’s in-app-purchasing commissions. Apple removed the title and sparked years of global litigation.
The return of the popular shooter to Apple’s distribution channel marks a major access change for iPhone and iPad users. It does not signal a final peace in the ongoing antitrust battles between the two companies.
Federal Court Orders Apple to Open iOS in Australia
According to the 1,104-paragraph filing from the Federal Court of Australia, Apple engaged in antitrust conduct that requires strict remedial action. Australian mobile distribution rules are set for a radical overhaul after a massive legal filing ordered the tech giant to dismantle its closed ecosystem.
Federal Court Judge Jonathan Beach largely accepted Epic’s proposed injunctions without a fixed expiry date. The geographic reach is limited to the Australian App Store and users maintaining Australian Apple accounts.
Apple must permit alternative app stores. The court orders echo regulatory actions taken by the European Union under the Digital Markets Act.
Apple must allow developers to process in-app payments through rival systems. It must also prohibit anti-steering practices that prevent users from discovering alternative purchasing methods.
Reporters Saloni Sinha and Sean Maguire noted in an insight report that the judgment was handed down on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Developers and payment providers taking advantage of the new rules can be based anywhere in the world.
Those developers must remain current members of Apple’s developer program.
Big news: Fortnite is coming back to the App Store in Australia tomorrow!Today the Australia Federal Court told Apple to open up iOS after finding they violated competition law. Here’s what’s changing in Australia in March 2027:• iOS will be open to third party app stores•…
Court Orders Apple to Pay Epic Trial Costs
The Australian court established a timetable for compliance while ordering Apple to pay a portion of Epic’s costs for the trial. Apple must submit evidence explaining why it might need an extension by February 15, 2027, if it is not ready by February 1.
The court ruled that Apple owes 85% of Epic’s costs for the trial.
Fortnite Returns To Australian Users
While the game returned to most global regions on May 19, 2026, Australia had remained a notable exception until the federal court’s competition ruling forced the platform changes.
Following the court’s intervention, Epic Games announced that Fortnite
would reappear on the Australian App Store. Reuters reporting filed by Rhea Rose Abraham in Bengaluru and edited by Ronojoy Mazumdar detailed that Epic Games stated on Wednesday that its shooter title would return to the storefront on Thursday.
The publisher confirmed that Australian players would regain native access after years of being shut out through traditional Apple distribution channels.
The company continues to challenge Apple’s rules in multiple jurisdictions. It provides alternative installation routes such as the Epic Games Store Mobile in the European Union and Japan while relying on cloud gaming services elsewhere.
Epic maintains that its wider dispute over developer fees and distribution control remains active.