The Australian judiciary determined that Apple violated competition laws by restricting alternative app marketplaces and external payment systems on its mobile ecosystem, clearing the path for the immediate return of the hit battle royale to the company's devices in that country.
The ruling was delivered by the Federal Court of Australia in a comprehensive 235-page decision issued by Justice Jonathan Beach. The judge established that the Cupertino tech firm held a substantial degree of market power in both iOS app distribution and in-app payment solutions markets. Under this assessment, the court found that the company improperly restricted competition by blocking third-party options to safeguard its closed ecosystem.
Following the verdict, Epic Games confirmed that Fortnite is officially available once again for iOS players across Australia. While the battle royale can now be accessed directly, the native Epic Games Store app will launch in the region at a later date. Company chief executive Tim Sweeney praised the court's stance, describing the outcome as a huge victory for consumers and developers.
Mandatory changes reshaping the App Store
The legal mandate enforces significant structural modifications to the operational guidelines of the App Store in Australia, scheduled to take effect in March 2027. Under these court orders, mobile users will be allowed to download software directly from developer portals, putting an end to the platform's long-standing download exclusivity.
Furthermore, studios will be allowed to implement alternative billing mechanisms for in-game purchases without the platform holder requiring its proprietary transaction framework or levying extra fees. The ruling also mandates that the tech giant cannot prohibit developers from directing users to external storefronts to complete transactions, nor will it be permitted to enforce additional charges on purchases processed through third-party platforms.
In response to the outcome, a company spokesperson told Reuters that they intend to seek a stay and appeal the decision, aiming to protect intellectual property and preserve the secure environment users and studios anticipate from the digital storefront.
A major turn in a years-long international battle
This decision marks another crucial development in a corporate clash dating back to 2020, when the title was removed after introducing a direct payment option bypassing digital store fees. The legal feud has unfolded across numerous jurisdictions over recent years, gradually altering commercial app distribution policies worldwide.
The return to Australian players follows a legal determination earlier this year that reinstated the game on mobile devices globally. Australia was initially left out of that wave because the developer had only secured a partial victory in local proceedings, keeping the game inaccessible due to what the studio termed an illegal payment arrangement.
This outcome in Oceania represents another victory for the creator of Unreal Engine, following its store rollout on mobile devices across the European Union in September 2024 and its revival in the United States after federal courts determined that out-of-store app purchases could not be subjected to platform charges.