Fortnite returns to iPhones and Android: a win for players and competitors alike

After a four-year wait, the popular multiplayer shooter Fortnite is returning to iPhones in the European Union and Android devices globally. This return is the result not only of legal action, but also of the tireless fight by developer Epic Games for fair competition in the digital marketplace. What led to Fortnite being left out of the loop and what are the implications for players, developers and the tech giants themselves?

What happened?

In August 2020, Apple and Google removed Fortnite from their app stores. This was due to the launch of an in-game payment feature that circumvented their rules and allowed players to pay the developer directly, avoiding the up to 30% commissions that Apple $AAPL and Google $GOOG charge for transactions. The move sparked a wave of lawsuits and opened up a debate about the monopoly position of these tech giants.

Epic Games, backed by Chinese company Tencent, has decided to oppose these terms and seek a rule change that would allow developers a fairer…