
Fortnite, one of the biggest video games in the world, is now available as an iPhone app for the first time in four years.
However, it is only available to players in the European Union.
This is because EU law requires Apple to allow third-party app stores on its devices, but there is no equivalent law in the rest of the world.
The game was removed from the App Store in 2020 following a payment dispute between Apple and Epic.
Users will need to install a separate app store on their phones to download the games.
One of these alternative storefronts is the newly launched Epic Games Store, which will also be available on Google Android devices for the first time.
Epic acknowledges that the process is “lengthy” and accuses Apple and Google of “intentionally introducing a poor installation experience, including multiple steps, confusing device setup, and scary screens.”
In a statement, Apple said new EU law “requires us to enable new features for EU developers, and we have worked hard to make it as easy as possible for users while protecting their privacy and security.”
The BBC has contacted Google for comment.
This comes as Fortnite launches a new season themed around Marvel’s Doctor Doom.
A new EU law called the Digital Markets Act comes into force in March and will require Apple to allow alternative app stores on its devices.
However, no such laws exist in other parts of the world, where the app can only be downloaded from Apple’s official App Store.
“Fortnite is now free on iOS in Europe thanks to the Digital Markets Act,” Epic president Tim Sweeney said on X.
“As Apple continues to block Fortnite from one billion players around the world, the fight to restore free market competition rages on.”
Apple says this is primarily for security reasons.
But Epic argues that this means Apple has exclusivity and can charge app developers a higher commission rate – up to 30% of the purchase price.
Google also charges a similar fee when your app is downloaded through the Google Play Store.
However, Google does allow alternative app stores on Android devices.
Android users can already download the Fortnite app directly onto their phones from Epic Games.
Fortnite is free to play, but makes money by charging players to purchase items in the game, such as new skins and weapons.
It was removed from Apple and Google’s app stores in 2020 after Epic Games stopped paying its fees.
When will Fortnite be available on iPhone in the UK?
Currently, iPhone users in the UK can’t download Fortnite, but they can play it in their browser.
The Guardian reports that Epic Games wants to bring the Fortnite app back to iPhones in the UK in late 2025.
“Unless Apple and Google continue to lobby the UK government to allow them to continue blocking competition, we should be able to improve that situation by the end of next year,” Tim Sweeney said.
New competition laws passed in May could pave the way for alternative app stores on the iPhone.
“While the fight is not over, this is tangible progress for developers and consumers who can begin to benefit from competition and choice,” Sweeney said in a press release.
Epic Games has also made its Rocket League Sideswipe and Fall Guys games available on the new app store.