Fortnite Set to Return to iOS in Japan Under New Law

A Major Victory for Epic Games in Asia

The long-standing feud between Epic Games and Apple has found a new battleground. This time, it is Japan. Thanks to a sweeping new antitrust law, Epic has confirmed that its massively popular battle royale game, Fortnite, will make its official return to iPhones in Japan.

The game has been locked out of the iOS ecosystem globally since 2020. That was the year Apple banned Fortnite after Epic attempted to bypass Apple’s 30% digital transaction fee. But the regulatory tide is turning fast. Japan is the latest nation to force Apple to open up its closely guarded mobile ecosystem.

Japan’s New Tech Rules Tighten the Screws

In June, Japan’s parliament passed the Act on Promotion of Competition for Specified Smartphone Software. The legislation is designed to break up the duopoly of Apple and Google. It officially prohibits these tech giants from blocking third-party app stores and alternative payment systems on their mobile operating systems.

The penalties for ignoring the new rules are exceptionally harsh. If a company is caught violating the law, the Japanese government can levy fines of up to 20% of the offending app’s domestic revenue. For repeat offenders, that penalty can skyrocket to 30%. With those numbers on the table, compliance is not really optional.

Epic Games did not hesitate to capitalize on the news. Soon after the law passed, the developer announced its intention to launch the Epic Games Store on iOS in Japan by late 2025. This is when the new regulations are expected to fully go into effect.

The Return of Fortnite to Japanese Screens

For Japanese gamers, this is a massive deal. Japan is one of the most profitable mobile gaming markets in the world, and iPhones command a market share of nearly 50% in the country. Losing access to iOS users was a massive blow to Epic’s reach. Getting back on these devices is a huge financial win.

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Under the upcoming system, Japanese iPhone owners will not download Fortnite from Apple’s official App Store. Instead, they will download the Epic Games Store app first, and then install Fortnite from there. This mirrors the workaround Epic recently pulled off in Europe.

The European Union’s Digital Markets Act paved the way for a similar launch in Europe in August 2024. Japan is now following the exact same playbook, much to the delight of Epic’s CEO, Tim Sweeney.

Sweeney has spent years waging a public relations and legal war against what he calls the “Apple tax.” On social media, he celebrated the Japanese legislation as a win for everyone. “This is a major step forward,” Sweeney wrote. “It will bring real competition and lower prices to consumers.”

Apple’s Defense and the Global Shift

Apple has not taken these regulatory attacks lying down. The tech giant has consistently defended its closed ecosystem, arguing that third-party app stores pose a serious security threat to everyday consumers. According to Apple, sideloading apps opens the door to malware, privacy breaches, and financial scams that their strict App Store review process currently filters out.

But lawmakers around the world are starting to value market competition over Apple’s security arguments. Beyond Europe and Japan, other countries are looking at similar measures:

• South Korea has already passed laws targeting payment monopolies on app stores.
• United States regulators are currently taking a much closer look at mobile platform monopolies.
• The United Kingdom is advancing its own digital markets legislation to curb big tech dominance.

The transition in Japan will take some time. The law gives companies a grace period to adjust, meaning Japanese players will have to wait until the end of 2025 to play Fortnite natively on their iPhones again. In the meantime, Epic is busy building out the infrastructure for its upcoming Japanese storefront. The battle for mobile gaming freedom is far from over, but Epic Games has just secured another vital piece of the board.