Apple’s courtroom drama with Epic Games just took a wild turn — and it’s Apple that’s come out bruised. In a landmark decision, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple can no longer charge developers fees for purchases made outside its App Store, nor can it restrict how devs direct users to external payment methods.
This ruling, effective immediately, is being called a massive win for Epic — and a potential game-changer for the app economy. Apple, of course, plans to appeal.
The ruling Apple didn’t see coming
Judge Gonzalez Rogers didn’t mince words. She slammed Apple for deliberately ignoring the spirit of her earlier 2021 injunction, saying the company “willfully” failed to comply.
The court found that Apple had tried to sneak around the order by implementing a 27% commission on purchases made outside its App Store — a move that undermined the original ruling, which was meant to open up the platform and reduce Apple’s control over in-app monetisation.
According to the judge, Apple’s leadership “chose poorly,” specifically calling out CEO Tim Cook for disregarding advice from App Store chief Phil Schiller.
The consequences are major. Apple is now barred from charging any fees on external transactions. Developers are also free to design and place external payment links however they want, without interference.
And Apple must stop trying to gatekeep users from leaving an app with anything other than a simple, neutral message. The court has even referred the case to the U.S. Attorney’s office for possible criminal contempt charges — a rare and serious escalation.
Epic’s big comeback
Epic Games isn’t wasting time. CEO Tim Sweeney tweeted that Fortnite would be back on the U.S. App Store “next week.” But he’s also offering Apple a peace deal: drop your external commission rules globally, and we’ll stop suing. It’s a bold ask — one that, if accepted, could end years of legal back-and-forth between the two tech giants. But if Apple refuses, more litigation is almost certain.
Epic’s position is clear: the App Store should be a distribution platform, not a toll booth. If Fortnite returns under these new terms, Apple won’t see a cent beyond the standard $100 per year developer fee. For users, it means one of the world’s biggest games will be playable again on iPhones and iPads, commission-free.
What this means for app developers
This isn’t just about Apple vs. Epic anymore. This ruling could shake the foundations of the App Store business model — one Apple has fiercely defended for over a decade.
With the court calling Apple’s tactics out as insubordination, and further appeals already on the way, the fight is far from over. But for now, developers are celebrating what feels like a turning point in the push for more open digital marketplaces.
