Epic Games’ long-running legal fight with Apple has produced another major ruling, this time in Australia. The Federal Court of Australia has ordered Apple to give iPhone users in the country more choice by allowing apps to be installed from third-party app stores and websites, marking a significant challenge to Apple’s tightly controlled iOS ecosystem.
The dispute originally centered on Epic’s attempt to use its own payment system in Fortnite instead of Apple’s in-app purchase framework. That move led Apple to remove Fortnite from the App Store, while Google also took the game down from Play Store. In 2021, a US court ruled that Apple must allow alternative payment options, and Australia later reached a similar conclusion after finding that both Apple and Google had breached local competition laws.
Although Fortnite eventually returned to app stores in several regions, it remained unavailable in Australia. The newest ruling expands on the earlier Australian decision and imposes broader requirements on Apple, giving users greater freedom to choose where and how they install apps.
Under the court order, Apple must permit third-party app stores and app sideloading for users with Australian accounts beginning March 1, 2027. The company may seek an extension until May 3, but that would require court approval. Apple must also allow alternative payment methods, including external payment links, limit fees tied to alternative distribution and payment systems, and remove technical barriers by opening up key APIs needed for third-party stores to function.
Apple has indicated that it plans to appeal the decision. Similar rules are already in place in regions such as the EU, Brazil, and Japan, although Epic has continued to criticize how the EU system has been implemented. In the US, alternative app stores are not yet permitted, but developers can now offer external payment links and other payment choices.
The article also notes that Fortnite is expected to return to Apple’s App Store in Australia soon.
