Fortnite Mobile used to be a major part of the game’s ecosystem, with tons of its own players and dedicated tournaments, until it vanished. But when will Fortnite come back to iOS in the United States? It has been one of the last regions lagging behind in not getting the game. That’s changed. Fortnite iOS has come back.
The Fortnite iOS release date for America has been pushed back repeatedly now. Recently, there was another change after a legal decision which opened the gates for Fortnite iOS to come back. But it’s was massively held up.
There were legal decisions, then Apple just started to block the release for no particular reason. Now, after a court threatened to summon Apple executives to explain themselves, the game has finally been approved again. It has been missing since Chapter 2. After a major blow out between Apple and Epic turned into a lengthy legal battle. We got a free skin of an Apple headed man as part of Epic’s campaign to brand Apple charging fees for their marketplace as a 1984-style problem. However, with a newer legal case breaking Apple’s monopoly, we have an end in sight for iOS in the United States Fortnite region. The game is back on mobile devices in another country:
Fortnite iOS is Back in US
Fortnite iOS is now back! It’s taken a very long time to get back in the US, 1,740 days. Which is around five years since it was first removed! Back then, we were in Chapter 2 with Midas and Meowscles all over the game. We’re now in a Star Wars season, although there’s still a lot of Midas and Meowscles versions in most lobbies.
Door Opened for Fortnite to Come Back to iOS
Fortnite will be coming back to iOS in US! Since the legal case has concluded, the door is open again to the game coming to the platform. In the past, it was locked out thanks to Apple charging a hefty fee on all purchases that came through their store. They also blocked users from using any other store. Essentially meaning it was pay the fee, or don’t offer anything to the millions of iOS users.
That’s exactly what Epic did for the last few years. They shut down on iOS in Chapter 2. Mac players can still play the Chapter 2 Season 2 map, in a very poorly presented version of the game. Fortnite iOS hasn’t been updated since in some regions either. Epic initially took the fight to court. But like most challenges to Apple’s eco-system it got bogged down with appeals on appeals.
Now, a new court decision has meant Apple cannot enforce their same platform restrictions anymore. We have a clean idea of when will Fortnite come back to iOS! Tim Sweeney tweeted initially about the decision that it could be back within a week. But since there were a few hold ups, before it was actually re-enabled on May 20th.
Initially, it looked like Fortnite iOS was able to return any day! They said around a week in the first announcement, so we were expecting it to arrive prior to newer updates like the Darth Vader AI NPC. With Epic having a working Fortnite iOS version for other regions already, it shouldn’t have taken too long to roll out. There was a hold up with Apple since. Regions like Europe, Brazil, and others already have access to Fortnite mobile on iOS. Globally though, there might be a window to a full return soon too.
Fortnite iOS Release Date Held Back by Apple
Despite Fortnite iOS being technically possible to bring back, the game didn’t arrive until weeks after it was submitted to the app store. What exactly happened?
Epic was submitting the game to the app store. However, it hasn’t been approved. Apple has been refusing to approve the app, for no clear reason. Apple wasn’t actually rejected it, but they aren’t approving it either. This has ended up in court too. Apple has been ordered to give a reason for refusing to allow Fortnite on the app store, they can’t simply deny access because they want to.
So, does this mean the Fortnite iOS release date will actually arrive soon? A few hours later, the game appeared on the app store! Apple could have continued to string this along with various courts, trying their best to block Fortnite. Apple had until May 21st to provide a reason. If they don’t, then Apple executives would need to appear on court a week later. Instead, they chose to approve the game and finally cave.
Fortnite iOS Could Come Back Globally
After the decision allowed Fortnite iOS to come back in the US, Tim Sweeney commented that an international release could be coming soon.
The CEO of Epic said “If Apple removes the third-party payment fee worldwide, Epic Games will put Fortnite back on the iOS App Store globally and drop current and future litigation on the topic.”.
If they accept the fee-less transactions worldwide, the game can come back everywhere. However, Apple might not be so easy to win over. So far, they’ve shown they won’t accept these kinds of judgments without a lot of fight. Apple continuing to charge fees in each remaining region until they’re forced not to might be a more realistic outcome.
They’re already appealing this recent decision in US markets. However, in the meantime the game is going to be available soon, most likely.
If you’re wondering when will Fortnite come back to iOS globally, it is a bit less clear. We’ll likely see in Fortnite news if it gets announced.
New Free Skin Could Come When Fortnite Comes back to IOS
Tim Sweeney has promised a bit of a reward for players if the game can make its way back to the app store internationally. A new free Fortnite skin! This is Pine Patron, an outfit they’re planning on releasing when Fortnite iOS comes back world-wide. It might be a kind of inverse of the Tart Tycoon. The villainous Apple skin that got added when the game left the platform
If a deal can be worked out and the game comes back permanently and worldwide, it’ll be nice to get a visual representation of it! With Fortnite iOS now back in the US this week, we’re getting closer than ever to mobile being once again a permanent fixture for Fortnite.
Will Fortnite Mobile Tournaments Come Back?
One quirk that newer followers of competitive Fortnite might not remember, is esports tournaments exclusively for Fortnite mobile. Back in Chapter 2, Epic had a strong plan for esports, with the same events running for every pool of players. PC players fought other PC players, console stayed with console, and mobile with mobile. This was shut down eventually. But with Fortnite Mobile coming back, will the tournaments?
The answer is probably not. The whole three different versions of every tournament weren’t really a worthwhile use of prize money. The mobile tournaments were dominated by players on iPad pros, essentially Fortnite iOS players performing like they’re on a PC at 120 FPS. Mobile Fortnite gets some exclusive cups, like the PlayStation Cups. A return to the days of entire tournaments on mobile doesn’t seem realistic though.
