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Epic Games Wins Australian Case, Fortnite Returning to iOS Soon
Epic's Big Win in Australian Court Epic Games has emerged victorious in a big legal battle against Apple and Google in Australia's Federal Court. The decision allows Fortnite to return to iPhones and iPads…
Epic's Big Win in Australian Court
Epic Games has emerged victorious in a big legal battle against Apple and Google in Australia's Federal Court. The decision allows Fortnite to return to iPhones and iPads in Australia for the first time in years.
Judge Jonathan Beach decided Apple and Google violated Australian competition laws. The two technology giants used their market muscle in ways that injured competition in the app economy, he said.
In the case of Apple, the court found it prevented users from loading apps directly or "sideloading" them. Apple also prevented app developers from providing their own payment systems. It was found that Google had the same issues with its Play Store billing policies.
Epic's Worldwide Battle With App Store Regulations
The ruling was labeled a "big win" by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney and confirmed that the Epic Games Store and Fortnite will return to iOS in Australia.
The case is one of a series of worldwide cases Epic has brought as part of its global legal campaign that started in 2020. In that year, Apple and Google banned Fortnite from their stores following Epic's insertion of a direct payment option to skirt their 30% commission fees.
In the US, Fortnite was back in the App Store in May 2025 following court decisions there. In the EU, the game can also be played via Epic's own app store marketplace.
Court's Split Decision
Though Epic succeeded on the issues of competition law, the judge rejected other allegations, such as that Apple and Google behaved in an "unconscionable" fashion under consumer law.
Apple stated that it "strongly disagreed" with certain aspects of the ruling but was pleased the court rejected certain Epic claims. Google likewise disagreed with the court's characterization of its billing system and indicated it would review the decision before making a decision about how to proceed.
Potentially Huge Compensation for Users and Developers
This decision paves the way for two significant class action lawsuits on behalf of app developers and Australian consumers. Lawyers indicate payouts may be worth hundreds of millions of Australian dollars, and it could be one of the biggest cases of this nature in the nation.
The cases span from November 2017 to June 2022 and allege Apple and Google's behavior resulted in more expensive apps and discriminatory charges to developers. Some 15 million customers and 150,000 creators may be impacted.
FAQs
1. What was the court's decision in Epic's case?
The court ruled Apple and Google violated Australian competition laws, paving the way for Fortnite's return to iOS in Australia.
2. Is Fortnite coming back to iPhones in Australia?
Yes, Epic has said it will.
3. What are the class actions?
They are suing for compensation for tens of millions of Australians who overpaid for apps or lost revenue as creators.
4. When did this court fight begin?
It started in 2020 after Apple and Google expelled Fortnite from their app stores.
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