• Fortnite returns to the Apple App Store after a nearly five-year absence.
• The ban was due to Epic Games implementing its own payment system.
• The game is also available on the Epic Games Store and AltStore in the EU.
• Epic CEO Tim Sweeney celebrated the return on social media.
• The iOS version now offers payment options that bypass Apple's commission.

Epic Games' popular multiplayer shooter game "Fortnite" is now available again on Apple's app store in the U.S., following a ban that lasted nearly five years. This return marks a significant victory for Epic Games and ends a contentious legal battle between the company and Apple, which began when the game was removed in August 2020 for violating App Store policies by implementing its own payment system, bypassing Apple's 30% commission fee, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

The return of Fortnite to the Apple App Store follows a recent federal court ruling that indicated Apple had violated an order to enhance competition regarding app downloads and payment options. This ruling brought new scrutiny to Apple's practices, as Epic Games highlighted that "We back fam," celebrating the launch on social media. Fortnite is also available on alternative platforms like AltStore in the EU, as reported by BBC and India Times.

Players can now directly download Fortnite from the Apple App Store, enjoying payment options that offer bonuses for using Epic's direct system rather than Apple's. The game remains immensely popular, with around 400 million registered users, primarily due to its engaging battle royale mode, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and India Times.