Fortnite CEO Hints at Return to iOS and iPad OS in 2023

Fortnite fans who own iOS and iPad OS devices don't have to wait longer to play the popular battle royale game again. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney recently hinted that the game will return to these platforms in 2023.

The saga between Epic Games and Apple began in August 2020, when Epic was removed from the App Store for violating the rules of Apple's payment system. This led Epic to file a lawsuit against Apple, which is still ongoing.

In a tweet commemorating the New Year, Sweeney seemed to suggest that progress will be made in 2023. He posted a short message saying "Next year on iOS!" and included an image from the Fortnite game in his reply.

While the return of "Fortnite" to iOS and iPad OS may be something that fans are eagerly anticipating, it's clear that there are still ongoing issues between Epic Games and Apple that need to be resolved first. Sweeney's tweet suggests that progress may be made in 2023, but there is speculation that this will require a major settlement between the two companies.

The appeal process for the lawsuit filed by Epic against Apple is still ongoing, and in a December interview, Sweeney stated that he would take the case to the Supreme Court if necessary in order to achieve a favorable outcome. It remains to be seen how this situation will ultimately be resolved, but it's clear that Epic is committed to fighting for what it believes in.

In addition to the possibility of "Fortnite" returning to the App Store in 2023, there is also speculation that Epic Games may create its own iOS app store. This possibility has arisen due to the "Digital Market Act," which is set to take effect in Europe and will require Apple to allow third-party application markets to exist on the iPhone and iPad.

If Apple has no objections, this law could lead to the feature being enabled in the fall of 2023. However, if Apple resists this change, it could potentially be delayed until 2024.

Despite the ongoing legal battle between Epic Games and Apple, it was reported on December 13 that Apple is already making changes to its software and services in order to comply with the "Digital Market Act" and allow third-party app stores on the iPhone and iPad.

This news comes after Epic CEO Tim Sweeney continued to criticize Apple and its policies, alleging that they are anti-competitive. In a recent interview, Sweeney likened Apple's management of the App Store to a railway monopoly blocking oil refineries from using the infrastructure.

It remains to be seen how these changes will impact Epic Games and its plans for the future. Will "Fortnite" return to the App Store in 2023 as Sweeney has hinted, or will Epic pursue other options such as creating its own iOS app store? Only time will tell, but it's clear that the legal battle between these two companies is far from over.