Fortnite Returns to Android via Google Play Store, Apple Faces Setback in Epic Appeal
After a five-year hiatus, Android users can once again download Fortnite directly from the Google Play Store. The return follows a settlement between Epic Games and Google that resolved a long-running legal dispute in the United States.
Fortnite was removed from both Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store in 2020 after Epic introduced a payment method that bypassed the storefronts’ standard in-app purchase system. Epic’s objective was to lower costs for players by avoiding the typical 30% commissions charged by Apple and Google. The move sparked ongoing legal battles with the tech giants.
Since then, Android users could sideload Fortnite, but this route is more complex and less reliable than a store download. Outside the United States, some users couldn't access the game through Google Play, though Epic has urged fans to stay tuned for updates.
In the Epic v. Google case, both parties reached a settlement in early November, with court approval still in progress. Epic stated that it would continue to collaborate with Google to obtain the necessary court authorization for the settlement.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney initially announced July that Fortnite would return to the Play Store, and Epic confirmed that the return occurred following Google’s compliance with a U.S. District Court injunction. A post from Epic on X (formerly Twitter) noted the anticipated Play Store return, though the original post appeared unavailable at times.
The game’s Android reintroduction appears timed with the release of a new Season 7 update to Fortnite’s Battle Royale mode, aiming to capitalize on renewed momentum.
Meanwhile, Apple’s appeal of a separate ruling in its Epic Games dispute was announced soon after Fortnite’s Android return. Apple had previously resumed Fortnite on the iPhone App Store in May after a judge required policy changes.
In a related development, a Ninth Circuit panel partially reversed some of the lower court’s sanctions against Apple and Epic, signaling that Apple can charge fees on purchases made outside Apple’s own App Store in specific circumstances. Reuters coverage highlights the panel’s stance on external purchase coordination fees.
Tim Sweeney hailed the appellate decision as evidence that the so-called “Apple Tax” is effectively ending in the United States, while suggesting that fair competition in iOS payments could expand globally.
About the author: James Peckham is a technology journalist with PCMag since 2025, covering the latest in gadgets and services used daily. If you have tips for PCMag, feel free to share them.
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