Fortnite Removed From Apple and Google App Stores: Here’s Why

Back in 2017, Fortnite made a debut on the two mainstream mobile operating systems namely Android and iOS. As expected, the game was very well-received by smartphone gamers all across the globe. With a recent Fortnite update, Epic Games introduced a direct payment method that goes by the name Epic Direct Payment in Fortnite. This payment method was introduced to eliminate the app store fees charged by Apple and Google.

Soon after the update, the game was removed from both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store as it violated the store policies. In this article, I have shared every bit of information that you need to know about the aforementioned situation.

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What Exactly Happened?

As you might or might not know both Apple and Google charge a fee whenever a user buys a game or an application from the app store. Furthermore, there are charges for in-app purchases as well. For instance, both Google and Apple charge 30% of all transactions made on an app.

To bypass this fee, Epic Game introduced Epic Direct Payment and the company even offered permanently discounted V-Bucks (Fortnite’s in-game currency) for anyone who uses the new payment method.

Once a user selects Epic Direct Payment, he is instantly redirected to a new payment page where he can use his credit card or Paypal to facilitate transactions. Creating and promoting a new payment method is against the policy of both the app stores.

Here’s what Apple stated after removing the game from the App Store,

“Epic enabled a feature in its app which was not reviewed or approved by Apple, and they did so with the express intent of violating the App Store guidelines regarding in-app payments that apply to every developer who sells digital goods or services.”

and here’s the official statement from Google,

“The open Android ecosystem lets developers distribute apps through multiple app stores. For game developers who choose to use the Play Store, we have consistent policies that are fair to developers and keep the store safe for users. While Fortnite remains available on Android, we can no longer make it available on Play because it violates our policies. However, we welcome the opportunity to continue our discussions with Epic and bring Fortnite back to Google Play.”

Epic Games Filed A Suit Against Apple And Google

After the removal of Fortnite from App Stores, Epic Games sued Apple and Google for anti-competitive restrictions in their app marketplace. Epic Games even called both the companies monopolistic. The Fortnite maker even released a parody video taking references from Apple’s iconic 1984 video. Lastly, in order to gain attention on social media platforms, Epic Games also introduced #FreeFortnite.

Can I Still Download Fortnite?

Sadly, it’s impossible to either download or update Fortnite on an iPhone or on an iPad. However, Android smartphone users can still sideload the APK. Furthermore, Fortnite is also available on the Galaxy Store for Samsung smartphone users. Since the game is removed from the Play store it’s not eligible for Google’s Play Protect program.