According to Polygon, Epic Games announced on Thursday that Fortnite has returned to the Google Play Store in the United States after a five-year absence. This move follows Google’s compliance with a U.S. District Court injunction stemming from Epic’s 2020 antitrust lawsuit. The game had been removed from both the Google Play and Apple App Store in 2020 after Epic introduced a direct payment system, bypassing the platforms’ fees. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney praised the return, calling it the start of a “new, open world of mobile gaming.” The company stated it is working with Google for court approval of their undisclosed settlement and plans to bring the game back to Google Play globally.
The long road back
This is a huge moment, but let’s be real: it’s mostly symbolic. The legal war between Epic and the mobile platform giants started in 2020, and it’s been a messy, drawn-out saga. Epic sued both Apple and Google, claiming their 30% cut of in-app purchases and their walled-garden approaches were anti-competitive. Apple’s case saw a partial win for Epic in 2021, which was finally cemented when the Supreme Court declined to hear Apple’s appeal earlier this year. That’s why Fortnite quietly slipped back onto iOS in the U.S. a few months ago.
Google’s case just wrapped up. They lost a jury trial in 2023, and after appeals and delays, a settlement was announced last month. The details are secret, which is always interesting. What did Google agree to? We don’t know. But the immediate result is clear: Fortnite is back in the official Android store. You can read Epic’s official statement on X.
What actually changed?
Here’s the thing: you could already play Fortnite on Android this whole time. Epic set up its own Epic Games Store on Android, offering a direct download. On iOS, you could use a service like Xbox Cloud Gaming. So for players, the “ban” was more of an inconvenience than a true blockade. The real battle was always about the principle and the money—specifically, avoiding that 30% platform fee.
So what does this return mean? It’s not a surrender by Epic. If anything, it’s a strategic normalization after extracting some concessions. The injunction Google complied with likely forces them to allow more steering—letting developers tell users about cheaper payment options outside the app. Tim Sweeney’s celebratory post hints at this “open world” vision. But the core storefronts and their rules are still very much in place.
The bigger picture for mobile
This feels like the end of an era, or at least a major battle. The aggressive, public legal fight is over, replaced by quiet settlements and a return to the status quo… mostly. The pressure from regulators in the EU and elsewhere, with laws like the Digital Markets Act, is doing more to force open mobile platforms than any single lawsuit could. Apple is now allowing alternative app stores and payment systems in Europe, not because of Epic, but because of Brussels.
So is this a win for Epic? Kind of. They proved a point, rallied developer sentiment, and probably got some better terms. But did they break the duopoly? Not even close. For a deeper look at the legal mechanics of the injunction, The Hill has a good breakdown. And if you’re curious how players managed on iOS during the exile, Game Rant outlined the workarounds.
What comes next
Basically, the drama is over. Fortnite is now officially available on every major platform again. For the average player, that’s just simpler. No more sideloading guides or cloud gaming workarounds. You just hit “install.” For Epic, it means they can capture the casual Android audience that never ventures outside the Play Store.
But look, the fundamental tension isn’t gone. The app store model is still under scrutiny globally. Epic’s fight brought the issue to the forefront, but the real changes are now being written into law by governments. The return of Fortnite is a peace treaty, not a victory parade. The mobile gaming world is “open” in some new ways, but the gates are still guarded by the same giants.
