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Australian Court Partly Rules Against Apple and Google in Epic Games Antitrust Case

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An Australian federal court has ruled that Apple’s App Store and Google’s Android app marketplace engage in uncompetitive practices, handing Epic Games a partial victory in its long-running legal battle against the tech giants.

The 2,000-page judgment, not yet publicly released, found that Apple and Google’s app stores lacked safeguards against anti-competitive behavior. However, the court also determined that the companies had not intentionally violated the law, local media reported.

Epic Games argued that both Apple and Google charged excessive fees for app downloads and in-app purchases while blocking users from installing alternative app stores. In response to the ruling, Epic said on X that the decision confirmed the companies “abuse their control over app distribution and in-app payments to limit competition.” The company also announced that Fortnite and the Epic Games Store would soon be available on iOS devices in Australia, calling it a win for both developers and consumers.

Apple welcomed the court’s dismissal of some of Epic’s claims but expressed strong disagreement with the findings on competition, maintaining that it faces “fierce competition in every market where we operate.” Google similarly said it would review the full judgment but disagreed with the court’s characterization of its billing practices and certain historical partnerships.

The ruling adds to Epic Games’ global campaign challenging the dominance of app distribution systems controlled by Apple and Google, which has included high-profile cases in the United States and Europe.

Judge Demands Apple to Address ‘Fortnite’ Reinstatement or Provide Explanation

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Apple Faces Court Deadline to Resolve ‘Fortnite’ App Store Dispute

Apple has been ordered by a U.S. federal judge to address its refusal to restore the popular game Fortnite to the App Store by May 27, or face having to explain its position in court. The legal battle between Apple and Epic Games has stretched on for nearly five years, with Epic’s CEO recently announcing plans to resubmit Fortnite to the App Store following a court ruling in their favor. However, Apple has resisted reinstating the game, instead opting to appeal the decision.

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, presiding in Oakland, California, issued a firm directive on Monday, emphasizing that Apple “is fully capable of resolving this issue without further briefing or a hearing.” She further stated that if the matter requires judicial intervention, an Apple executive must appear in court prepared to discuss the case in detail. This move highlights the judge’s growing impatience with Apple’s ongoing delays and signals the court’s expectation for a swift resolution.

The dispute between Apple and Epic began in 2020 and has involved multiple legal battles, including an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. At the heart of the conflict are Apple’s App Store policies, especially its fees and restrictions on developers. Apple’s removal of Fortnite from its marketplace has cut off access to the game for more than a billion iPhone and iPad users worldwide, making the case a focal point in the broader debate over app store regulation and developer rights.

While Apple has yet to confirm which executive will represent the company in court, Judge Gonzalez Rogers has requested that the chosen official be fully prepared to answer questions related to Fortnite’s status on the App Store. Executives involved with the App Store operations include Phil Schiller, Carson Oliver, and Trystan Kosmynka. Both Apple and Epic have remained tight-lipped in response to the latest court developments, leaving the tech and gaming communities eagerly awaiting the next move.

Fortnite Returns to Apple App Store in U.S. After Nearly Five-Year Ban

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Epic Games’ Fortnite has officially returned to the Apple App Store in the United States, ending a nearly five-year absence triggered by a high-profile legal battle between the video game developer and the iPhone maker. The reinstatement marks a significant legal and strategic victory for Epic Games.

The return follows a federal court ruling on April 30 that found Apple in violation of a prior court order requiring it to enable more open competition in its App Store, particularly in how apps are downloaded and how in-app purchases are processed. The ruling also stated Apple failed to comply with an earlier injunction and would be referred to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt investigation.

Apple has not publicly commented on the decision or Fortnite’s reappearance. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney simply posted: “We back fam” on X (formerly Twitter), signaling the game’s return.

Background: The Legal Dispute

The dispute began in 2020, when Epic attempted to bypass Apple’s up to 30% commission fee by implementing its own payment system within Fortnite. Apple responded by removing Fortnite from its App Store, prompting Epic to file an antitrust lawsuit.

While the case didn’t yield a full victory for Epic initially, recent court decisions have increasingly favored greater developer rights and payment flexibility, with potential implications far beyond gaming.

Implications for the App Ecosystem

At the time of its removal, Fortnite had over 116 million users on Apple devices alone. Its return, though symbolically important, may not fully recapture its previous popularity.

“This was a hard-fought win that carried a very steep price and may be too late to boost Fortnite, now past its prime,” said Gil Luria, analyst at D.A. Davidson.

However, the broader impact could be more significant. Michael Ashley Schulman, CIO at Running Point Capital Advisors, said the ruling opens the door for subscription-based platforms like Spotify and Netflix to improve their margins and for smaller developers to bypass Apple’s transaction fees altogether. This could lead to a reshaping of iOS economics over the next 12–18 months.

Current Availability

Fortnite is already available on Android devices and iPhones in the European Union, where digital market regulations have forced more openness. In addition to Apple’s App Store, Fortnite is also accessible via the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the EU.

The game’s return to U.S. iPhones signifies not just a platform comeback, but also a critical turning point in the ongoing debate over digital platform control, developer rights, and app store economics.