Epic Games has officially scored a massive legal win against Apple — and it could change the future of web3 gaming on iOS.

On April 30th, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple violated a 2021 court order by trying to sneak in a 27% fee on purchases made outside the App Store. This move was found to be a “willful violation” of the 2021 injunction, which had forbidden Apple from blocking developers from linking to external payment options.

“Apple’s continued attempts to interfere with competition will not be tolerated,” Gonzalez Rogers wrote in her ruling.

In short, after being ordered back in 2021 to open the ecosystem, Apple went the opposite direction — introducing new fees and using full-screen warnings to scare users away from third-party payment options. Now, Judge Gonzalez Rogers says Apple could even face criminal contempt charges, after it was revealed that Apple’s VP of Finance, Alex Roman, “outright lied under oath” about the 27% commission setup.

Apple Can No Longer Charge External Fees on iOS Apps

Under the new ruling, Apple is immediately banned from:

• Charging fees on purchases made outside the App Store
• Restricting developers from linking to external payment websites
• Using “scare screens” or warnings to push users back toward Apple’s system

Gonzalez Rogers slammed Apple for trying to “maintain a valued revenue stream” even after being told to change. “For this Court, there is no second bite at the apple,” she said.

Apple said it “strongly disagrees” with the decision but confirmed it would comply for now while preparing an appeal.

Fortnite Returns to iOS App Store After 4 Years

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney quickly celebrated the court’s decision, posting: “NO FEES on web transactions. Game over for the Apple Tax.”

Sweeney also announced that Fortnite will return to the U.S. iOS App Store next week, after being banned for more than four years. Fortnite was originally pulled from the store in August 2020 when Epic tried to bypass Apple’s 30% fee system.

If Apple applies the no-fee rule globally, Epic Games promised to drop all ongoing and future lawsuits related to App Store practices and fully restore Fortnite worldwide.

However, Fortnite’s comeback isn’t guaranteed just yet. Apple still has to approve Epic’s app submission, and Sweeney warned that Apple might still “arbitrarily reject” the game even if Epic plays by the rules. “We just have to see what Apple does,” he added.

Epic also teased a new Fortnite skin, the Pine Patron outfit, which players could earn if a reconciliation with Apple happens. The skin would celebrate the game’s return — a callback to the earlier “Tart Tycoon” skin, which symbolized Fortnite’s rebellion.

How Epic’s Win Changes the Web3 Gaming Landscape

While Fortnite fans are celebrating, the court victory could be even bigger for blockchain gaming.

According to Immutable Co-Founder Robbie Ferguson, who broke down the impact on X, web3 games have been heavily throttled on iOS for years. Even though Apple technically allowed NFT games since 2022, any payments had to go through Apple’s system, triggering a 30% fee (or 15% for smaller studios).

“This allowed a 30% fee to be levied for all in-game purchases,” Ferguson wrote. “Such high fees made it unviable for most Web3 games to target mainstream audiences on the US Appstore.”

Now that external payments are allowed without fees, Ferguson says players and devs can expect:

• More web3 games launching on the App Store
• More revenue flowing directly to smaller developers
• Cheaper in-game economies for players

“We’ve still got a long way to go before web3 gaming is truly mass-market,” Ferguson noted, “but a huge source of friction just got removed.”

Axie Infinity Co-Founder: “Gaming Season Is Coming”

Jihoz, the co-founder of Axie Infinity and the Ronin Network, also praised the decision as a milestone.

“Linking to outside forms of payment are no longer prohibited for web3 games,” Jihoz wrote. “Web3 mobile games have been forced to compete with one hand behind their backs.”

He added that things got so bad in 2023 that Congress sent a letter to Apple’s Tim Cook, referencing Axie’s struggles under App Store rules.

“This is a big moment for web3 gaming,” Jihoz said. “Gaming szn is coming.”

What’s Next for Apple and Web3 Developers?

While Apple plans to appeal, the current ruling stands. Unless overturned by a higher court, this marks the end of forced 27% fees for external purchases on iOS in the U.S.

The decision is set to boost innovation and lower costs for web3 games, NFT platforms, and crypto-related apps — all sectors that were previously stifled under Apple’s strict payment control.

Still, whether Apple will find another way to protect its revenue streams remains to be seen. For now, though, builders, gamers, and anyone rooting for a more open digital economy have something to celebrate.