Fortnite & Epic Games Store Set to Return to Australian iOS Devices

In a major development for the mobile gaming industry and the ongoing saga between Epic Games and Apple, it has been confirmed that both Fortnite and the Epic Games Store will be made available on iOS devices in Australia. This announcement comes directly from Epic and is a direct result of a recent, favorable court ruling in the country.

The Australian court's decision marks another significant blow to Apple's tight control over its App Store. The ruling found certain actions by Apple to be anti-competitive, echoing similar legal outcomes in other major markets like the United States, the European Union, and Japan. For years, Epic Games has been at the forefront of this battle, advocating for more open ecosystems on mobile platforms and challenging the 30% commission that Apple charges on in-app purchases.

This is a huge win for consumer choice and competition in the Australian mobile market. We are thrilled to bring Fortnite back to our Australian players and to offer developers another choice for distributing their games on iOS.

The return of Fortnite to iOS in Australia is particularly noteworthy given its massive player base and its central role in Epic's legal challenges. The game's removal from the App Store in 2020 was a flashpoint that ignited the legal dispute, and its return signifies a potential turning point in how digital marketplaces operate globally. Players in Australia will now be able to download the game and make in-app purchases through Epic's own payment system, bypassing Apple's commission.

Furthermore, the introduction of the Epic Games Store on iOS in the region provides a new distribution channel for developers. This move is expected to foster greater competition and could lead to more favorable terms for developers who previously had no alternative to the App Store. Epic has long positioned the Epic Games Store as a more developer-friendly platform, offering an 88/12 revenue split, which is a significant improvement over the standard 70/30 split.

This news is a testament to the growing global momentum behind regulatory efforts to curb the dominance of platform holders. As more countries and regions scrutinize the practices of tech giants, the landscape of mobile gaming is changing rapidly. For Australian gamers and developers, this means more options, greater flexibility, and a more competitive marketplace. The next few months will be crucial as we see how Apple adapts to this new reality and how players and developers respond to the return of Epic's offerings. This shift could set a precedent for similar changes in other parts of the world, creating a ripple effect that benefits the entire mobile gaming ecosystem.