Court orders Apple to let Fortnite back and open iPhones to other app stores in Australia, and Apple will appeal

The changes must be in place by March 2027. Epic says Fortnite is returning to the App Store in Australia.

Confirmed

An Australian court has ordered Apple to let the game Fortnite back into its App Store. Justice Jonathan Beach of the Federal Court made the orders on Thursday, Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported. Apple removed Fortnite years ago after a fight with its maker, Epic Games. Now Apple must do everything needed to bring Fortnite and other Epic apps back in Australia. The court also ordered bigger changes. Apple must let Australian iPhone users download apps directly, or get them from other app stores. Security checks must still be done. Apple must allow other ways to pay inside apps too. These changes must be in place by March 2027, AAP, Reuters and The Verge reported. The orders only apply in Australia. Epic says Fortnite is returning to the App Store in Australia. Epic boss Tim Sweeney called it "a huge victory for consumers and developers". Apple says it does not hold a monopoly. "We will request a stay and appeal the outcome," Apple said. That means it wants the orders paused while it challenges them. No orders were made about Google.