Fortnite returns to Australian Apple devices as court orders iPhone maker to open up app store

Federal Court gives Apple until March 2027 to allow alternative app stores and payment systems on its devices, citing competition law breaches

By LineZotpaper

Published23 October 2026

Read Time2 min

The Federal Court has ordered Apple to allow alternative app stores and payment systems on its devices, finding the tech giant violated Australian competition law in a landmark decision that brings Fortnite back to Apple's Australian app store after a six-year absence.

Federal Court Justice Jonathan Beach ruled on Thursday that Apple had contravened the Competition and Consumer Act with an "intricate web of terms and technical measures," and ordered the company to pay 85 per cent of Epic Games' legal costs from the months-long trial. Apple has until March 2027 to make the changes.

The judgment sets out the consequences of the Federal Court's decision in August last year, in which both Apple and Google were found to have misused their market power in how their app stores were run.

Epic Games, and lawyers in a parallel class action, had long alleged Apple and Google were running illegal monopolies by effectively banning other app stores from their devices and forcing apps to use their payment platform, where they collect between 15 and 30 per cent in fees. The iPhone maker had cited security and intellectual property concerns in its defence throughout the case.

The decision signals the immediate return of Fortnite to Apple's Australian app store from today, after a six-year hiatus. It is the latest chapter in a six-year anti-trust legal battle between Apple and Epic Games spanning Europe, the UK, the US and Australia.

Consumer advocates are hopeful the changes will result in increased competition and lower prices for millions of Apple users. An estimated 15 million Australian Apple users will soon be able to download apps from the open web as well as rival app stores.

Apple told Reuters it disagreed with many of the court's findings and would seek to challenge them. "We will request a stay and appeal the outcome to seek a resolution that respects our intellectual property and protects the safe, secure experience that consumers and developers expect from the App Store," an Apple spokesperson said.

Analysis

Why This Matters

An estimated 15 million Australian Apple users will gain access to alternative app stores and payment methods, potentially lowering app prices.
The ruling sets a significant precedent for digital marketplace regulation in Australia, following similar moves in Europe and elsewhere.
Fortnite's return to Apple devices marks a concrete outcome of a six-year global legal battle that has reshaped app store policies.

Background

The case began with a six-year anti-trust legal battle between Apple and Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite, across multiple jurisdictions including Europe, the UK, the US and Australia. In August last year, the Federal Court found both Apple and Google had misused their market power in operating their app stores. This latest judgment specifies the remedies Apple must implement, including allowing alternative app stores and alternative payment methods, and sets a compliance deadline of March 2027.

Key Perspectives

Epic Games and consumer advocates: They argued Apple and Google were running illegal monopolies by banning other app stores and forcing the use of Apple's payment platform, where it collects 15 to 30 per cent in fees. Consumer advocates hope increased competition will lower prices for users. Apple: The company cited security and intellectual property concerns in its defence. It disagrees with many of the court's findings and plans to appeal, seeking to protect the safe, secure experience consumers and developers expect from the App Store.

What to Watch

Apple's appeal and whether it seeks a stay of the March 2027 compliance deadline.
Whether Google faces similar remedies in the parallel class action and its own competition case.
Whether other jurisdictions follow Australia's lead in mandating app store openness.

Sources

Fortnite returns to Apple's Australian app stores after landmark case · Latest Science news

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.

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SupportedFortnite is returning to Apple's Australian app store as the court orders Apple to open its devices to other app stores.Latest Science news: “Fortnite returns to Apple's Australian app stores after landmark case. The Federal Court has ordered Apple to open up its devices to other app stores”
SupportedApple has until March 2027 to make the changes.Latest Science news: “The company has until March 2027 to make the changes”
SupportedThe court's decision requires Apple to permit alternative app stores and payment methods.Latest Science news: “Now, as a result of yesterday's decision Apple will also have to permit the use of alternative payment methods, as well as allowing alternative app stores.”
SupportedThe Federal Court found Apple violated Australian competition law.Latest Science news: “The Federal Court has ordered Apple to open up its devices to other app stores, as part of a landmark finding that the tech giant violated Australian competition law.”
SupportedThe decision signals Fortnite's return to Apple's Australian app store after a six-year hiatus.Latest Science news: “The decision signals the immediate return of one of the world's most popular games, Fortnite, to Apple's Australian app store from today, after a six-year hiatus.”
SupportedJustice Jonathan Beach said Apple contravened the Competition and Consumer Act with an “intricate web of terms and technical measures”.Latest Science news: “In publishing his reasons, Justice Beach said Apple had contravened the Competition and Consumer Act with an "intricate web of terms and technical measures"”
SupportedApple was ordered to pay 85 per cent of Epic Games' legal costs from the months-long trial.Latest Science news: “and ordered the company to pay 85 per cent of Epic Games' legal costs from the months-long trial.”
SupportedAn August decision found that Apple and Google had misused their market power in how their app stores were run.Latest Science news: “The long-awaited judgement sets out the consequences of the Federal Court's decision in August last year in which both Apple and Google were found to have misused their market power in how their app stores were run.”
SupportedEpic Games and lawyers in a parallel class action had alleged that Apple and Google were running illegal monopolies by effectively banning other app stores and forcing apps to use their payment platform.Latest Science news: “Epic Games, and lawyers in a parallel class action, had long alleged Apple and Google were running illegal monopolies, by effectively banning other app stores from their devices and forcing apps to use their payment platform, where they collect between 15 and 30 per cent in fees.”
SupportedThe app platforms collect between 15 and 30 per cent in fees.Latest Science news: “where they collect between 15 and 30 per cent in fees.”
SupportedAn estimated 15 million Australian Apple users will soon be able to download apps from the open web and rival app stores.Latest Science news: “It's a fundamental shift for an estimated 15 million Australian Apple users, who will soon be able to download apps from the open web as well as rival app stores as a result.”
SupportedApple told Reuters it disagreed with many of the court's findings and would challenge them; its spokesperson said, “We will request a stay and appeal the outcome to seek a resolution that respects our intellectual property and protects the safe, secure experience that consumers and developers expect from the App Store.”Latest Science news: “Apple told Reuters it disagreed with many of the court's findings and would seek to challenge them. "We will request a stay and appeal the outcome to seek a resolution that respects our ‌intellectual ⁠property and protects the safe, secure experience that consumers and developers expect from the App Store," an Apple spokesperson said.”