Lyla Lindsey
Fortnite has been at the centre of controversy in Australia, with concerns raised about its impact on children and its availability on app stores. In 2020, Fortnite was removed from the Apple and Google app stores after its developer, Epic Games, introduced its own in-app payment system, bypassing the platforms' payment systems and cutting out their fees. Epic Games took legal action against Apple and Google, alleging that their restrictions on mobile device marketplaces were anti-competitive. In 2025, Epic Games won a partial victory in the Australian Federal Court, with the judge ruling that Apple and Google had breached the Competition and Consumer Act. As a result, Fortnite is set to return to iOS in Australia, although it remains unavailable to download on the App Store. While there have been concerns about the potential negative impact of Fortnite on children, leading to discussions about a possible ban, the game has not been deemed illegal in Australia.
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What You'll Learn
Fortnite is not illegal in Australia
In 2025, Epic Games won a partial victory in the Australian Federal Court, with Justice Jonathan Beach ruling that Apple and Google had breached the Competition and Consumer Act. The ruling found that Apple had engaged in conduct likely to diminish competition by preventing the direct downloading or sideloading of apps and blocking developers from using alternative payment methods. Google was found to have breached the law for similar reasons, with its Google Play billing system.
Following the ruling, Fortnite returned to the Apple app store in the US, and it was announced that the game would also come to iOS in Australia. However, as of August 2025, the app remains unavailable to download in Australia except on Android via sideloading.
While there have been concerns raised about the potential negative impact of Fortnite on children, there is no indication that the game will be banned in Australia. In fact, some sources argue that games like Fortnite are crucial to children's social lives, learning, and personal growth.
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Apple and Google removed Fortnite from their app stores
In response to Epic Games' implementation of its own in-app payment system, Apple and Google blocked Fortnite players from installing and updating the game through their respective app stores. Apple also threatened to prevent Epic from creating software for all Apple devices, not just Fortnite but also its other games and Unreal Engine. Epic Games then launched legal proceedings in Australia, extending its fight to make digital platforms fairer for consumers and developers. The company took legal action in the Federal Court of Australia to end the anti-competitive restrictions on mobile device marketplaces imposed by Apple and Google.
In August 2020, Epic Games sued Apple and Google after Fortnite was removed from both app stores. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney publicly criticized both companies for their practices, stating that Apple's removal of Fortnite was "yet another example of Apple flexing its enormous power in order to impose unreasonable restraints and unlawfully maintain its 100% monopoly over the iOS in-app payment processing market." Epic requested an injunction to prohibit Apple's allegedly anticompetitive conduct and to restore competition.
In the Australian Federal Court, Epic Games alleged that Apple's control over in-app purchases prevented users from downloading apps outside the app store and prevented developers from running their own app stores. Epic also alleged that Google harmed app developers and consumers in Australia by preventing choice over app distribution and in-app payments on Android devices. Justice Jonathan Beach found that Apple had engaged in conduct likely to diminish competition, in breach of section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act, by preventing side-loading of apps on iOS and preventing developers from using alternative payment methods. Google was also found to be in breach of the same section of the Act for its similar Google Play billing system.
While Fortnite is still available on Android via side-loading, it remains unavailable to download in Australia except through this method.
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Epic Games took legal action against Apple and Google
Fortnite is a free-to-play game that allows players to purchase in-game currency called "V-bucks" for cosmetic items. In 2018, Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, introduced the game on mobile devices. Initially, Epic Games released the game through sideloading to avoid giving Apple and Google any revenue from in-game sales.
In August 2020, Epic Games initiated Project Liberty, a plan developed by CEO Tim Sweeney to challenge the 30% revenue fees on Apple's and Google's stores. Both the Android and iOS versions of Fortnite were updated with code to allow players to buy V-bucks directly from Epic Games, providing a better deal for those buying directly. This practice violated the allowable terms for apps for both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and Fortnite was removed from these storefronts that same day.
Epic Games then filed federal lawsuits against both Apple and Google in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, asserting that their storefronts engaged in anti-competitive behaviour. Epic Games did not seek monetary damages but instead sought injunctive relief to allow fair competition in these two key markets.
Epic Games also launched legal proceedings in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. In Australia, Epic Games took legal action in the Federal Court of Australia to end the anti-competitive restrictions on mobile device marketplaces imposed by Apple and Google. In August 2025, Epic Games won a partial victory in the Australian federal court against Apple and Google over restrictions in app stores and failing to allow for competition for in-app payment options.
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Australian court rules Apple and Google broke competition law
Fortnite is not illegal to play in Australia. However, the game was kicked off the Apple and Google app stores in 2020 after Epic Games offered its own in-app payment system, which bypassed the platforms' payment systems and cut out the fees that Apple and Google receive for in-app payments.
Epic Games took legal action in the Federal Court of Australia to end the anti-competitive restrictions on mobile device marketplaces imposed by Apple and Google. The company alleged that Apple's control over in-app purchases prevented users from downloading apps outside the app store and stopped developers from running their own app stores on iOS devices. Apple's policies are so restrictive that they block gaming services like Microsoft xCloud, NVIDIA GeForce NOW, and Google Stadia from existing on iOS.
In August 2025, Justice Jonathan Beach of the Federal Court of Australia ruled that Apple and Google had breached local competition laws with their respective app stores. The ruling was issued in connection with four different lawsuits. The first two were filed by Epic Games, a major video game developer, while the other two are class-action complaints. The ruling means that Epic's store and Fortnite will come to iOS in Australia, though the court rejected Epic's claims of consumer law violations or unconscionable conduct.
The judgement could have a significant impact on how digital platforms operate in Australia and may result in lower prices, increased competition, and more innovation. The exact amount of compensation that consumers and developers could be entitled to will be determined at another hearing.
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Fortnite may be considered addictive to children
Fortnite is a highly popular online video game with over 78.3 million players worldwide. The game is free to play and available across most platforms, including PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. In the game, up to 100 players compete to be the last one standing in a continuously shrinking map.
The addictive nature of Fortnite has sparked concern among parents, with reports of children neglecting personal hygiene, sleep, and social activities to play the game. Some parents have reported aggressive behaviour from their children when attempting to limit their playtime. In extreme cases, children have been sent to rehab for Fortnite addiction, and some families have filed lawsuits against Epic Games, claiming that the company failed to disclose the risks of addiction.
While video game addiction is a recognised condition, it is important to note that the impact of Fortnite addiction can vary depending on a child's age and individual circumstances. Younger children may struggle to distinguish between virtual and real-life consequences, while older children may form intense online friendships that disrupt their sleep and daily responsibilities. To mitigate the risks of addiction, parents can set clear boundaries, limit screen time, and encourage alternative activities to foster a healthy balance.
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Frequently asked questions
No, it is not illegal to play Fortnite in Australia. However, in 2020, Fortnite was removed from the Apple and Google app stores after Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, offered its own in-app payment system that bypassed the platforms' payment systems and cut out the fees they receive for in-app payments. In 2025, Epic Games won a partial victory in the Australian federal court against Apple and Google, and Fortnite returned to the iOS app store in Australia.
Fortnite was removed from the Apple and Google app stores in Australia because Epic Games offered its own in-app payment system, which bypassed the platforms' payment systems and cut out the fees they receive for in-app payments. Apple and Google blocked Fortnite updates and prevented users from downloading the game through their app stores.
In 2025, Epic Games won a partial victory in the Australian federal court against Apple and Google. Justice Jonathan Beach found that Apple and Google had breached the Competition and Consumer Act by engaging in conduct that diminished competition. As a result, Fortnite returned to the iOS app store in Australia. However, Apple stated that it "strongly disagreed" with the ruling.
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