Fortnite has returned to the US App Store following a five-year absence. The news comes after a judge ordered Apple to allow the game on its store. The game’s return is the latest milestone in the Epic Vs Apple legal battle, which started back in 2020 when Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store after Epic bypassed its platform fees.

Earlier this month, a US judge ordered Apple to remove its restrictions on alternative payment methods, which included a 27% commission on payments made on iOS apps and games via web links. In response, Epic prepared to bring Fortnite back to the US App Store, only to have it blocked by Apple. The first attempt to bring the game back also saw it become temporarily unavailable in Europe.

Apple finally approved Fortnite’s return after US judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ordered the tech giant to do so.

Announcing its return, Epic Games said: “Fortnite is BACK on the App Store in the U.S. on iPhones and iPads… and on the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the E.U! It’ll show up in Search soon!”

In a post sharing the news, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney wrote: “We back fam”. Sweeney would later go on to thank those who’ve supported Epic’s lengthy legal battle.

“Thanks to everyone who supported the effort to open up mobile competition and #FreeFortnite from the very beginning. And thanks to all of the folks who initially sided with Apple then later came around to the winning side, supporting app developer rights and consumer rights.”

Former Chief Creative Officer Donald Mustard also commented on the news: “This is absolutely incredible,” Mustard said. “Everyone go get Fortnite on your Phones and iPads NOW!!! We worked SO hard in those early days of Fortnite to really dial in and refine a great control scheme for mobile devices!”