Fortnite is back on Australia’s App Store as of October 23, 2026. Its Australian listing shows the game as free with in-app purchases. The return follows a Federal Court order requiring Apple to take steps to readmit Fortnite and other eligible Epic apps.
Epic announced the return in an October 22 post, Australian time, saying it would happen the following day. However, its iOS information page still says Australia is excluded. The Australian storefront now displays the game despite that notice.
Tech My Money previously covered Fortnite’s earlier global App Store expansion. The latest listing adds the Australian storefront to its App Store presence.
Fortnite download requirements
Apple’s listing specifies iOS 17.0 or later and a 16+ age rating. Its description lists these supported device families:
- iPhone 11 and newer
- iPhone XS and newer
- iPhone 12 Mini and newer
- iPhone SE 3 and newer
- iPad Pro 10.5-inch and newer
- iPad Air, fourth generation and newer
- iPad, tenth generation and newer
- iPad Mini, sixth generation and newer
What the Fortnite order requires
The Federal Court’s October 22 orders require Apple to take the necessary steps after Epic makes a written application. Epic must follow the developer agreement and App Store Review Guidelines, insofar as they are consistent with the orders. This part covers Fortnite and other Epic iOS apps, but excludes an alternative app store.
Specifically, Apple must process compliant developer documents and app updates through its usual business practices. It must also permit access to the relevant development tools. The order requires the same treatment for discovering, downloading, using and updating eligible apps as for other App Store apps.
The court defines the storefront covered by this order as the Australian App Store. It also defines an Australian Apple Account as one with its country or region set to Australia. Together, those definitions establish the Australian scope of the orders.
Broader changes have a later deadline
Separately, the court ordered Apple to allow alternative distribution channels, including direct downloads and third-party app stores. Apps using those channels must undergo an automated scan for genuine security or privacy reasons. Additionally, Apple or a suitably qualified third party must notarise those apps.
The payment orders also prevent Apple from requiring its in-app purchase system or blocking links to other payment methods. However, Apple can impose necessary and proportionate requirements to address additional security risks. It must first give affected developers reasonable written notice explaining the risks and why its proposed requirements are necessary and appropriate. Where direct communication is not reasonably practicable, Apple may instead publish that notice on its website.
These broader distribution and payment orders take effect at noon Melbourne time on March 1, 2027, subject to an extension. However, Apple can seek an extension to noon Melbourne time on May 3, 2027. It must file and serve its application with supporting evidence between February 1 and February 15, 2027. The court must also grant the application for that extension to take effect.
That commencement provision applies to orders three through eleven. It does not set the start date for the separate order covering Fortnite’s readmission. Therefore, the game’s App Store return and the broader distribution and payment changes follow separate schedules.
