Fortnite is making its long-awaited return to iPhones in Australia after a major Federal Court ruling ordered Apple to loosen its grip on app distribution and payment systems.

The decision marks a significant victory for Epic Games in its years-long legal battle with Apple over App Store restrictions and developer fees.

In a 235-page judgment, the Federal Court of Australia found that Apple had breached competition law by restricting rival app stores and alternative payment methods on its iOS platform.

Justice Jonathan Beach found that Apple held a substantial degree of power in the markets for iOS app distribution services and in-app payment solutions.

The ruling opens the door for Fortnite to return to Australian iPhones, although the Epic Games Store is expected to launch locally at a later date.

More substantial changes to Apple’s App Store operations in Australia are scheduled to take effect in March 2027.

Under the new requirements, iPhone users will be able to download apps directly from developers, bypassing Apple’s official App Store.

Developers will also be free to offer alternative payment systems without being required to use Apple’s in-app purchasing platform or pay additional fees.

Apple will no longer be permitted to prevent developers from directing customers to external websites or third-party marketplaces to complete transactions.

The company will also be prohibited from charging additional fees on purchases made through competing app stores.

Apple is not accepting the decision without a fight.

A spokesperson told Reuters that the company intends to seek a stay and appeal the ruling, arguing that it needs to protect its intellectual property and maintain the security standards consumers and developers expect from the App Store.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney welcomed the outcome, calling it a “huge victory for consumers and developers.”

The legal battle between Apple and Epic dates back to 2020, when Fortnite was removed from the App Store after Epic introduced its own payment system to bypass Apple’s commission fees.

That move sparked legal challenges in several countries, with Epic accusing Apple of using its control over iOS app distribution and payments to restrict competition.

Fortnite has since returned to iPhones in other markets, including the United States, following court rulings that limited Apple’s ability to collect fees on transactions made outside its App Store.

In Europe, regulatory changes allowed third-party app marketplaces to operate on iOS, with Epic launching its own store in 2024.

Australia had remained one of the exceptions after an earlier court decision delivered only a partial victory for Epic, leaving Fortnite unavailable to local iPhone users.

The latest ruling removes a major obstacle to the game’s return and could have wider implications for how Apple operates its App Store in Australia.

However, with Apple preparing an appeal, the full impact of the decision and the timing of some changes remain uncertain.