Fortnite will reappear on the U.S. iOS App Store and iPhones next week following a major court decision, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced.

On April 30, a California Federal District Court ruled that Apple deliberately breached a court order in the Epic Games v. Apple case, mandating Apple to allow developers to offer alternative payment options outside apps.

In a post on X, Sweeney proposed a “peace deal” to Apple, Epic’s long-time legal adversary. “If Apple extends the court’s seamless, tax-free framework globally, we’ll bring Fortnite back to the App Store worldwide and halt all current and future litigation on this issue,” Sweeney stated.

In January, IGN detailed how Sweeney invested billions fighting Apple and Google over their app store practices. Sweeney told IGN this was a strategic investment in Epic and Fortnite’s future, confident Epic could sustain the battle for decades.

Sweeney’s persistent effort to restore Fortnite on iPhones and Android devices without paying store fees is well-known. Epic aims to bypass the standard 30% store fees on mobile game revenue by operating Fortnite through its own Epic Games Store, free from Apple and Google’s interference. This conflict led to Fortnite’s removal from iOS in 2020.

Now, nearly five years later, Fortnite is poised to return to U.S. iPhones.

In another post, Sweeney celebrated the ruling: “No fees on web transactions. The Apple Tax is finished.”

“Apple’s 15-30% fees are now as invalid in the U.S. as they are in Europe under the Digital Markets Act. Illegal here, illegal there.”

Apple now faces federal prosecution for violating the court order. “Apple’s efforts to stifle competition will not be tolerated,” said U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. “This is an injunction, not a discussion. There are no second chances for willful disregard of a court order.”

Gonzalez Rogers referred Apple and its vice president of finance, Alex Roman, to federal prosecutors for a criminal contempt probe. She described Roman’s testimony on Apple’s compliance efforts as “filled with misdirection and falsehoods.”

Apple responded, “We strongly disagree with the ruling. We will comply with the court’s order and appeal.”

After numerous costly legal battles, Epic has achieved significant progress, previously limited to Europe under the Digital Markets Act.

Last August, the Epic Games Store launched on iPhones in the European Union and Android devices globally, featuring Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys for mobile. However, Epic notes that complex “scare screens” deter up to 50% of users from proceeding.

Amid these efforts, Epic faced substantial layoffs. In September 2023, the North Carolina studio cut 830 employees, roughly 16% of its workforce. In October, Sweeney emphasized the company’s “financial stability,” noting Fortnite and the Epic Games Store achieved new records in engagement and success.