Epic Games just got a big win in its fight with Apple. A judge ruled that Apple broke the rules set back in 2021. That decision could bring Fortnite back to the U.S. App Store as soon as next week. The popular game that was removed from the U.S app store may find its way back, thanks to a recent court ruling.
Apple Broke the Rules — On Purpose
The judge, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, said Apple was in “willful violation” of the court’s earlier order. That order banned Apple from blocking developers who wanted to link users to outside payment options.
Apple didn’t just ignore the order. The court says Apple went out of its way to create new roadblocks for developers. The judge wasn’t happy about it.
“That it thought this Court would tolerate such insubordination was a gross miscalculation,” she said. She even referred the case to the U.S. attorney to consider criminal contempt charges against Apple.
Fortnite Could Be Back Next Week
Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney shared the news on X. He said Fortnite could return to iPhones in the U.S. as early as next week. But there’s more.
Sweeney offered Apple a deal. If Apple allows the same rules worldwide, Epic will drop all lawsuits and bring Fortnite back globally. That would be a major shift for both companies.
Spotify and Others Celebrate
Other tech companies are happy with the court’s decision. Spotify, one of Apple’s biggest critics, welcomed the ruling.
“This landmark court ruling is a victory for developers everywhere,” said Spotify spokesperson Jeanne Moran. She added that Spotify will quickly update its U.S. app to improve the experience for users.
For now, all eyes are on Apple. Will they finally follow the court’s orders? Or will the battle drag on? Either way, Fortnite fans might finally get what they’ve been waiting for.
