Fortnite is finally back in the U.S. iOS App Store after five long Fortnite-less years. Apple approved the return of Epic Games' popular battle royale on Tuesday, enabling U.S. iPhone users to join the battlefield for the first time since 2020.

“ Fortnite ” has officially returned to the iOS App Store in the U.S.. The news came on Tuesday afternoon via a post on the official X account for the Epic Games shooter. “Fortnite is BACK on the App Store in the U.S. on iPhones and iPads… and on the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the E.U!,” read the post. “It’ll show up in Search soon!”

It’s currently in first place in the free games category for both iPhone and iPad, less than a day after returning to the App Store. No surprise after an almost five-year absence. [Image: It didn’t take long to overtake the competition.

Epic Games' wildly popular multiplayer shooter game "Fortnite" is available again on Apple's App Store in the US, capping a ban of nearly five years and marking a major win for the video game company.

Fortnite's return to the iOS App Store is imminent. This follows a US court ruling that mandates Apple must allow developers to

Five years ago, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store and set off a years-long legal battle that has led to sideloading in the E.U., threats in the U.S., and legal threats all over the globe. After a tumultuous few weeks, Apple has apparently relented and approved Fortnite’s return to iPhones and iPads.

The popular videogame “Fortnite” has returned to the iPhone App Store in the U.S., ending a prolonged exile that was triggered by a legal showdown over the lucrative fees that Apple had been collecting for years through a payment system that it has been forced to change.

Apple was in danger of having to show up in court on May 27 if it didn't respond satisfactorily to a show cause order by Wednesday, but neither is no longer necessary.

The problem is that Apple is specifically not allowed to “prohibit” the use of external payment links. It can reject apps, or ban developer accounts, at its own discretion. But if it rejects an app or bans a dev for no reason other than its use of such links, does that amount to a de facto prohibition? Again, that’s debatable.