Epic Games has secured a meaningful victory in the Australian Federal Court, setting the stage for Fortnite and the Epic Games Store to return to iOS devices in Australia. Justice Jonathan Beach has concluded that both Apple and Google had engaged in anti-competitive conduct, imposing restrictive practices that hindered third-party app stores and alternative in-app payment methods.
The ruling, based on a careful interpretation of Australia’s Competition and Consumer Act, specifically Section 46, found that the tech giants’ dominance effectively reduced competition in app distribution and in-app purchase mechanisms.
However, the court did not uphold all of Epic’s claims, dismissing allegations relating to unconscionable conduct. Epic Games responded swiftly via its official X (formerly Twitter) account:
CEO Tim Sweeney added:
“Victory in the Australian antitrust proceedings of Epic v Apple and Epic v Google! Fortnite will return to the Land Down Under through Epic Games Store at a date to be determined.”
Apple and Google have acknowledged the ruling selectively. Apple stated it “welcomes the court’s rejection of some of Epic’s claims” but “strongly disagrees” with other findings, arguing that the App Store remains competitive and secure. Google echoed similar sentiments, citing competitive billing practices.
This outcome in Australia mirrors precedent set in the U.S., EU, and Japan, where Epic has won legal permissions to offer alternative stores and payment systems on iOS platforms. In the U.S., court decisions earlier this year reopened the App Store to Fortnite. Now, Australia joins that rollout.
The legal battle between Epic Games and Apple dates back to August 2020, when Epic deliberately bypassed Apple’s in-app purchase system in Fortnite by introducing its own direct payment method. This move violated Apple’s App Store guidelines, prompting Apple to remove Fortnite from iOS within hours.
Epic responded with a lawsuit accusing Apple of engaging in monopolistic practices and unfairly controlling the iOS app market through its 30% commission fee on transactions.
Epic positioned the case as a fight for fair competition and consumer choice, even launching a parody video titled “Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite,” which drew parallels between Apple and the authoritarian figure in George Orwell’s 1984.
Apple, on the other hand, argued that its App Store policies ensured user safety, privacy, and security, claiming that allowing alternative payment systems could compromise those protections.
Over the years, the dispute expanded globally, with lawsuits and regulatory inquiries in multiple regions. While some rulings favored Epic—such as requiring Apple to allow developers to inform users about alternative payment options—many courts upheld Apple’s right to maintain control over app distribution on iOS.
The standoff also resulted in Fortnite being unavailable on the App Store for years, frustrating millions of players on iPhones and iPads. After all this time, the long-running feud has finally reached a turning point.
While the full judgments—spanning over 2,000 pages—have yet to be published, today’s summary marks a critical shift in Apple and Google’s global app store policies. Epic Games celebrated the ruling as not just a win for itself, but a boost for developers and consumers across Australia.
As the dust settles, Australian iOS users can anticipate Fortnite and the Epic Games Store returning—but the timeline remains undefined. Epic has committed to determining a launch window “soon,” and the iOS ecosystem in Australia may experience a bold, welcome expansion.
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