Fortnite could unexpectedly return to iPhone in 2023

Apple and Fortnite is a turbulent story that has been going on for years. Banned from the AppStore since summer 2020, the game is only available on the platform through Xbox Cloud Gaming. But it may come back in a more tangible way this year.

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games (the studio behind Fortnite), tweeted on Dec. In the second, he makes a cryptic statement: “Next year on iOS!”.

Is Fortnite coming back on iOS soon?

It’s a vague message, but it makes one think of the studio’s flagship game, undesirable on the Apple platform. Sweeney has a habit of being honest and serious in his tweets.details his conflicts with the Cupertino company. So the probability of being a troll is very low.

Fortnite’s return can take several forms. A return directly to the AppStore certainly cannot be ruled out, but it is highly unlikely as Apple has no intention of putting water in its wine regarding online transactions. On the other hand, Apple will soon have to include third-party app stores on its platform to comply with European Union rules. Their arrival could be as early as September 2023 with iOS 15. this way Fortnite can sneak into iOS.

As a reminder, Apple and Epic Games are in dispute over in-app purchases. Buying V-Bucks in Fortnite was more expensive on iOS than on PC, because 30% tax was applied. Epic Games then tried to fix the problem by redirecting buyers to a third-party site, which resulted in Apple banning the game from its platform altogether. After a lawsuit settled in favor of Epic, the Cupertino company appealed. Therefore, the game will remain blocked on the Appstore until the end of the trial period, that is, for at least five years.