The long-running legal battle between Apple and Epic Games has reignited in Australia. A court order had previously mandated the return of Fortnite to stores, but Apple had announced that it would continue to keep it off the platform. This time, in the Australian case, Apple responded strongly to the allegations, claiming that Epic wanted to “get a free ride on the platform.”

New Stage in Apple and Epic Games Case

In 2020, Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Apple in Australia, accusing the company of violating competition laws. In August 2025, the Federal Court issued a partial ruling in favor of Epic.

This ruling ruled that Apple’s rules prohibiting external app installations and alternative payment methods violated competition laws. However, the court also acknowledged that Apple had the authority to restrict them on security grounds.

Currently, Epic Games is requesting the court to completely ban external app installations and alternative payment methods on iPhones. Apple argues that Epic Games’s demands exceed the limits of the previous court ruling. The company said in a statement, “Epic now wants to bypass all the security measures we have put in place to protect users and enjoy free access to Apple’s platform. We expect a decision that respects our intellectual property rights and protects user security.”

The two parties officially began preparing for a final settlement at a hearing held on October 17. The initial injunction hearing was scheduled for December, but the main hearing, where the final decision will be made, has been postponed until March 2026. Apple has been given the opportunity to respond to Epic’s proposed regulations during this period.

The current legal landscape could force Apple to allow external app installations and alternative payment systems, even if the final decision has not yet been announced. Epic Games states that if the decision is in its favor, Fortnite will return to the iOS platform in Australia. However, Apple maintains that this would compromise user security.