Fortnite returns to iOS in Australia after court rules Apple violated competition law
The Federal Court of Australia has ruled that Apple violated competition law by restricting alternative app stores and payment methods on its iOS platform. In a comprehensive 235-page decision, Justice Jonathan Beach found that Apple held “a substantial degree of power” in both the iOS app distribution and in-app payment solutions markets, which it had leveraged anti-competitively.
Following this ruling, Fortnite has returned to the Australian App Store. Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite, had previously withheld the game from the Australian App Store while pursuing the case against Apple’s restrictions on payment terms. The company welcomed the decision in a social media statement, describing it as “great news for developers worldwide and iOS users in Australia who will benefit from an open mobile app ecosystem.”
The court’s decision mandates significant changes to Apple’s iOS policies in Australia starting in March 2027, requiring iOS to open to third-party app stores and fundamentally altering how applications are distributed on Apple’s platform in the country. This decision represents a major victory for app developers who have long challenged Apple’s tight control over distribution and payments. It follows similar legal action in the United States, where a judge previously ordered Apple to address its disputes with Epic Games, resulting in Fortnite’s return to the US App Store in May 2025.
Apple indicated it would seek a stay on the ruling and appeal the decision, signaling its intent to challenge the court’s findings.