Fortnite, one of the world’s most popular video games, has made a comeback on mobile phones after a four-year absence. The game is now available on Android phones worldwide, including the UK, through the newly launched Epic Games Store. However, iPhone users in the EU will have to wait a bit longer to access the game due to EU laws requiring Apple to allow third-party app stores on its devices.
The game was removed from mobile devices in 2020 following a dispute between Apple, Epic Games, and Google over payment issues. Now, users will have to download an alternative app store before they can download Fortnite and other Epic games.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney criticized Apple and Google for creating a “lengthy” and confusing process for users to download the game. He also highlighted the new EU law that requires Apple to allow alternative app stores on its devices, giving European users access to Fortnite once again.
In the UK, iPhone users currently cannot download Fortnite, but they can still play the game on a browser. Epic Games aims to bring the Fortnite app back to UK iPhones by late 2025, pending lobbying efforts by Apple and Google to continue blocking competition.
Overall, the return of Fortnite to mobile devices marks a significant development in the ongoing battle between app developers and tech giants over control and competition in the digital marketplace.
