Fortnite returns to Google Play Store after 5-year antitrust battle

Epic Games’ Fortnite has returned to the U.S. Google Play Store after a settlement in its five-year antitrust lawsuit against Google over in-app purchase commissions. The dispute originated in 2020 when Epic bypassed platform payment systems, prompting removals from both Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

In August 2020, Epic Games released an updated version of Fortnite for iOS and Android devices that circumvented the standard in-app payment systems required by Apple and Google. This update allowed players to purchase in-game items directly through Epic’s own system, avoiding the 30% commission charged by the platforms. In response, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store on August 13, 2020, citing violation of its developer guidelines. Google followed suit two days later, suspending Epic’s developer account and pulling the game from the Play Store.

Epic Games immediately filed antitrust lawsuits against both companies, alleging monopolistic practices in controlling app distribution and payments. The suits challenged the platforms’ restrictions on alternative payment options and their commission structures, which Epic argued stifled competition and inflated costs for developers and consumers.