Epic’s legal battle with Apple surpasses $100 million in fees

Epic Games has spent over $100 million in legal fees challenging Apple’s App Store policies, CEO Tim Sweeney revealed in a recent interview. The cost stems from a years-long legal fight centered on Apple’s restrictions around in-app purchases and platform control.

According to Sweeney, the financial toll on Epic goes well beyond legal bills. In the two years Fortnite operated on iOS, it generated roughly $300 million. Since being removed from the App Store in 2020, Epic estimates it has potentially lost hundreds of millions more — both from direct revenue and the diminished network effect of players being unable to engage with friends on iOS.

While Epic largely lost the broader antitrust argument — with the court ruling Apple did not hold a monopoly — the company did win a key concession. Apple was forced to eliminate its “anti-steering” policies, which previously barred developers from linking users to external payment methods outside the App Store.

After years of delay, Apple implemented the court-mandated changes in 2024, though initially still applied fees to purchases made through external links. Last week, a federal judge ruled that Apple had violated the original injunction by imposing those conditions, holding the company in contempt of court. The ruling now compels Apple to allow external links in U.S. iOS apps without commissions or visual design constraints.

Apple is appealing the contempt ruling, but the decision temporarily reshapes the App Store’s commerce rules. Epic is capitalizing on the development, with Sweeney confirming that Fortnite will return to the iOS App Store in the U.S. this week. Though Apple revoked Epic’s U.S. developer account, the company plans to leverage its Swedish account to relaunch the game.

Sweeney said Apple has been notified of Epic’s plans. He expressed doubt that Apple would block the app again, suggesting such a move would be politically and publicly damaging.

Looking ahead, Epic plans to expand its developer offerings beyond Fortnite. Later in 2025, the company will introduce Epic Games Store Webshops — digital storefronts hosted through Epic that allow developers to sell directly to consumers. Developers earning under $1 million annually per app will face no fees, while others will pay a 12% commission.