Toni Dimaano Games 01.02.2023 22:Jan PM EST

Epic Games CEO Hints 'Fortnite' Return To iOS In 2023

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, has suggested that Fortnite will make a comeback to iOS and iPadOS in 2023 amid its legal battle.

Nearly three years after the top-grossing game was kicked out of the App Store for breaking platform rules, Fortnite is purportedly coming back to Apple devices.

Sweeney Teases The Alleged Return On New Year

According to Mac Rumors, Sweeney tweeted "Next year on iOS!" with a picture of a Fortnite avatar gazing up at fireworks that spell out 2023 to ring in the new year.

Following the cryptic tweets, Sweeney chooses to talk about math rather than going into further detail, though there are a variety of possible interpretations for the statement.

According to reports, in order to comply with the recently passed DMA (Digital Markets Act) rule in Europe, Apple intends to make sideloading and alternative app stores available with iOS 17 next year.

The law and its implementations theoretically permit Epic Games to reintroduce Fortnite to iOS, just not via the App Store.

Epic Games has avoided Apple and the App Store since August 2020 because of payment system violations that resulted in significant litigation challenging the App Store's guidelines.

As a result of Epic Games breaking its App Store guidelines, Apple ultimately banned Fortnite from its devices, Hot Hardware writes.

In an effort to defend open platforms and regulations that benefit all developers, Epic Games sued the Cupertino tech giant after Fortnite was removed from the App Store.

Three years later, Apple and Epic Games are both appealing a September 2021 court ruling that would have mandated the company to permit developers to include in-app links to external websites.

Due to this, developers are no longer required to use the in-app purchase mechanism, allowing for the development of alternative payment methods.

According to the game developer, the iPhone should support other app shops because Apple's monopoly on iOS and the App Store is anti-competitive.

Apple, on the other hand, maintains that users and developers can still find and discover apps in the App Store in a secure and reliable manner, Mac Rumors notes.

A Reconciliation Might Be Around The Corner

Fortnite might return to Apple, but this is only a remote possibility, since it would necessitate significant reconciliation between both companies.

Given that the primary lawsuit's appeals procedure is still ongoing, it might take some time to finish it, according to Apple Insider.

Sweeney said in a December interview that if necessary to win, he would take Apple's case all the way to the Supreme Court.

Technically speaking, it is the simplest outcome in practice because all Apple would need to do is bring Fortnite back into the App Store, and the game developer would need to update its game.

Additionally, The Digital Markets Act in Europe will compel Apple to permit the existence of third-party app marketplaces for iPhone and iPad.

If Apple doesn't object, the law might lead to the company providing that functionality in the fall of 2023, while its opposition might delay a change until 2024.