Fortnite returned to the iOS App Store in Australia on October 22, 2026, after a federal court ruled that Apple had violated the country’s competition law by restricting app distribution and payment options. Epic Games announced the move a day earlier on its official X account.
Key points
- Fortnite returned to the Australian iOS App Store on October 22, 2026, after a federal court ruling.
- Judge Jonathan Beach found Apple violated Australian competition law over app distribution and payments.
- Apple must open iOS to third-party app stores and alternative payment systems starting March 1, 2027.
- Apple can request an extension to May 3, 2027, and plans to appeal the decision.
- The court ordered Apple to pay 85% of Epic's legal costs from the original trial.
The decision closes a gap that had lingered since May 2026, when Fortnite returned to the App Store worldwide except in Australia. Australian players can now download the game directly from Apple’s store instead of relying on the Epic Games Store, and they still have time to try Fortnite‘s current Fortnitemares event before it wraps up.
Federal Court Sides With Epic Over Apple’s App Store Rules
Federal Court Judge Jonathan Beach issued a 235-page decision largely accepting Epic’s proposed remedies, though he limited their scope to Apple’s Australian app store and users holding Australian Apple accounts. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission had been granted leave to intervene in the case, giving the regulator a direct role in arguing how Apple’s rules affect local competition.
The court also ordered Apple to pay 85% of Epic’s legal costs from the original trial, while leaving a decision on costs tied to the later remedies hearings for a future ruling. Apple said it disagreed with many of the court’s findings, according to Reuters, and plans to challenge the decision.
What Changes for Australian Developers in March 2027
Beyond Fortnite‘s return, the ruling sets out broader changes to how Apple runs its iOS platform in Australia starting March 1, 2027. Apple has until February 15 to ask the court for an extension to May 3, 2027.
- iOS will open to third-party app stores.
- Australian users will be able to download apps directly from developers.
- Developers will be allowed to offer only alternative payment systems, and Apple cannot require its own in-app purchase system without charging extra fees.
- Apple cannot block developers from directing users outside their apps to complete purchases.
- Apple is barred from charging additional fees on purchases made through third-party app stores.
The court also directed Apple to readmit other eligible Epic Games apps to the Australian App Store, as long as they meet the platform’s standard developer rules.
Sweeney Calls the Ruling a ‘Huge Victory’
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