U.S. court bars Apple from charging fees on external app purchases, paving Way for Fortnite’s return

A U.S. federal court has issued a significant ruling in the ongoing legal dispute between Epic Games and Apple, blocking the tech company from charging commissions on purchases made outside of its App Store in the United States. The decision, which takes effect immediately, also prevents Apple from restricting developers from directing users to alternative payment options.

The ruling stems from an earlier 2021 injunction that found Apple’s 30% commission on in-app purchases to be anticompetitive. Although Apple subsequently introduced a 27% commission on external transactions, the court has now ruled that this adjustment still violates the original order.

In response to the latest development, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced that Fortnite will return to the U.S. App Store next week after being removed in 2020 due to Epic’s implementation of an in-app payment system that bypassed Apple’s fees.

We will return Fortnite to the US iOS App Store next week.

Epic puts forth a peace proposal: If Apple extends the court's friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide, we'll return Fortnite to the App Store worldwide and drop current and future litigation on the topic. https://t.co/bIRTePm0Tv

— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) April 30, 2025

According to the court, Apple’s updated practices—including the use of “scare screens” to discourage users from choosing alternative payment methods—were aimed at preserving a lucrative revenue stream in defiance of judicial instructions. The ruling also singles out Apple’s vice president of finance, Alex Roman, for allegedly providing false testimony during proceedings, referring the matter to the local U.S. attorney for possible criminal contempt charges.

While Apple has indicated plans to appeal, the court’s decision sets a clear precedent on how platform holders may—or may not—control developer interactions and monetization strategies within their ecosystems.

The ruling currently applies only within the United States. However, Sweeney has proposed a broader resolution: if Apple adopts the U.S. court’s restrictions globally, Epic would return Fortnite to App Stores worldwide and end ongoing litigation related to the issue.

This decision follows broader scrutiny of Apple’s business practices in other jurisdictions. In March, the European Union fined Apple €500 million (approximately $568 million) for similar actions that limited third-party payment systems.