Fortnite is set to make a long-awaited comeback to iPhones in Australia after Epic Games secured a key win in the country’s Federal Court.
The ruling found that Apple and Google had misused their control over app distribution and in-app payments, restricting competition in ways that breached Australian competition laws. While the court did not side with Epic on every point, it concluded that both companies’ practices limited choice for developers and consumers, paving the way for Fortnite’s reinstatement outside of Apple’s App Store.
This decision follows similar legal developments in other regions, including the European Union and the United States, where Epic has been challenging the dominance of major mobile platforms. In the EU, new regulations under the Digital Markets Act have already allowed Epic to bring Fortnite back to iOS. In the United States, Fortnite was reinstated following an earlier court decision earlier this year. Australia’s ruling now joins that momentum, offering another market where Apple’s closed distribution model faces legal pushback.
Epic confirmed that the Fortnite iOS Australia return will happen through the Epic Games Store, giving players a direct route to install and play the game on iPhones. This means the game will bypass Apple’s App Store restrictions, including its longstanding in-app payment rules. The move also signals a broader shift, as other developers could be encouraged to explore alternative distribution methods if legal conditions allow.
For Australian players, the return means more than just renewed access to Fortnite. It reflects a larger transformation in how iOS apps could be distributed in the future. If more developers follow Epic’s lead, consumers could see lower prices, more diverse payment options, and a wider selection of apps outside Apple’s walled garden. For Apple, this decision represents another legal challenge to the tightly controlled ecosystem that has been central to its mobile strategy.
