Fortnite returns to Google Play in the US after Epic wins key app store fight
Fortnite’s return means Android players finally get a simple, secure way to install the game after years of messy detours.
After four years of legal battles and a high-profile fight over app store power, Fortnite is officially back on Google Play Store in the U.S. The return closes the loop on a dispute that began in 2020 when Epic added a direct-purchase option inside Fortnite, bypassing Apple and Google’s payment rules.
Both companies removed the game within hours, and Epic responded with lawsuits that reshaped the conversation about platform control. This week’s update marks the first major movement since those cases began to settle, and it highlights a clear split between the two platforms that dominate mobile gaming.
🚨 Fortnite is back on the Google Play Store in the U.S. following Google’s compliance with the U.S. District Court’s injunction. We’re continuing to work with Google to seek court approval of our settlement. Stay tuned for news of Fortnite's return to Google Play to the rest of… https://t.co/HgUgZofeBW
— Epic Games Newsroom (@EpicNewsroom) December 11, 2025
Epic’s clearest victory came on Android. Google lost its antitrust case late last year after a jury found that it had been operating the Play Store in an anti-competitive way. That ruling prompted Google to negotiate, leading to one of the most significant changes to its policies in years.
Now, developers can direct users to outside payment methods. Google must also cap the fees it charges on those external transactions. And Fortnite is returning to the Play Store without Epic giving up the independence it fought to protect. For Android users, that means the game can be downloaded normally again with no side-loading or warnings.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney described the agreement as a "comprehensive solution" and pointed to it as evidence that Android remains a more open platform for developers.
Emmanuel Umahi
The story looks different on iOS. Epic had previously won a narrow ruling that forced Apple to permit links to alternative payment options. Developers viewed that decision as a potential break in Apple’s long-standing commission model.
This week, an appeals court clarified the limits of that ruling. Apple can still charge a fee on transactions made outside the App Store. It can also decide how visible or prominent external payment links can be. In practical terms, developers can link out, but Apple controls how effective that link is and retains a share of the revenue. For developers hoping for real payment freedom, the ruling marks a setback.
Although Fortnite is the headline, the implications reach far wider. These rulings influence how developers generate revenue, how app stores exercise power, and how much real choice users have when interacting with mobile platforms. Smaller studios often depend on these decisions to negotiate terms they wouldn't otherwise be able to challenge. Regulators across the European Union, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and the United States continue to track these cases as they consider updates to app market rules.
Oluwaseun Bamisile
The takeaway
Fortnite’s return to the Google Play Store is both a symbolic and practical victory for Epic and for developers seeking more flexibility in how they run their businesses. On iOS, the landscape remains largely unchanged, with Apple maintaining authority over payment flows even outside its own store. The broader battle over app store power is far from over, and Fortnite remains one of the clearest case studies in how that power is contested.
