Fortnite Returns to iPhones in the EU After Four-Year Absence

For the first time in four years, Fortnite, one of the most popular video games globally, is available on iPhones, but only for players in the European Union. This return is a direct result of the EU’s new Digital Markets Act, which mandates that Apple allow third-party app stores on its devices—a requirement not enforced in other regions.

Fortnite was removed from the App Store in 2020 following a dispute between Apple and Epic Games over payment systems. To access Fortnite, EU users must now install an alternative app store, such as the newly launched Epic Games Store, onto their iPhones. This store is also available for the first time on Google Android devices.

Epic Games has criticized the process, calling it “lengthy” and accusing Apple and Google of creating intentionally cumbersome installation experiences. Despite these hurdles, Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney celebrated the game’s return to iOS in Europe, attributing it to the new legislation.

Apple responded, stating that while they have enabled new capabilities for developers in the EU as required by law, they continue to prioritize user privacy and security. The Digital Markets Act, which came into force in March, has opened up new possibilities for app distribution in the EU.

Meanwhile, iPhone users in other regions, including the UK, still cannot download Fortnite from the App Store and must play through a web browser. However, Sweeney hinted that if Apple and Google do not succeed in lobbying the UK government to maintain their restrictions, Fortnite could return to UK iPhones by the end of next year.