The lawsuit battle between Apple and Epic Games has created a significant gap in the way applications operate within the iOS ecosystem. A federal court based in California determined that Apple breached a 2021 injunction and hindered fair market competition.
This ruling now forces Apple to let developers accept crypto payments and use NFT features inside iOS apps without going through Apple’s in-app system or paying its 30% fee. As of right now, Fortnite is coming back to the U.S. iOS App Store, and app developers finally have more control over their own money.
According to Variety, the ruling didn’t just end Apple’s monopoly on app payments. It opens a clear path for mobile crypto wallets to plug directly into iOS apps. That means apps can now take USDC, ETH, SOL, and other crypto assets straight from users—no middlemen, no extra fees, no Apple tax.
This decision permits applications to incorporate NFT marketplace functionalities within the app itself. Users will no longer be redirected to a mobile web browser for completing sales. Now, NFT apps can manage the entire transaction process internally.
The court ruled that Apple misled consumers and has blocked all future potentially anticompetitive actions.
The decision came from Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who said Apple broke the court’s earlier order on purpose. In her words, “Apple’s continued attempts to interfere with competition will not be tolerated.”
She said Apple was not following the law and instead kept building new ways to block developers from using off-app payments. She made it clear the injunction is active now, and Apple is banned from putting new commissions or limits on developers who use their own payment rails.
Apple had removed Epic Games’ developer account back in August 2020, right after the original lawsuit. Fortnite was pulled from the App Store, and other Epic titles disappeared. That account was only reinstated in Europe last year.
Currently, this issue is returning to the United States. The court determined that Apple attempted to evade the earlier ruling by feigning compliance while secretly maintaining efforts to stifle competition.
Judge Rogers specifically called out Alex Roman, Apple’s VP of Finance, for lying under oath. She said Apple’s internal documents showed they knew exactly what they were doing.
“In stark contrast to Apple’s initial in-court testimony, contemporaneous business documents reveal that Apple knew exactly what it was doing and at every turn chose the most anticompetitive option,” she said.
Sweeney states it's beneficial for developers and enables NFT functionalities within applications.
Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, stated that this decision aligns perfectly with what developers have long advocated for. "This represents a significant win for developers," he remarked during a media briefing.
This indicates that every developer has the option to provide Apple’s payment system alongside their own payment method. Apple isn’t allowed to impose charges on the developers' individual payment systems, and these same developers have the liberty to share any cost reductions with consumers via varied pricing strategies.
Tim stated that the ruling now compels Apple to genuinely vie for position in the marketplace just like all other companies. "This move makes Apple have to contend with other payment systems instead of barring their entry," he noted.
This is exactly what we've been aiming for. We have consistently recognized Apple's authority to run their own store and provide their own payment system. Our objective has simply been to establish an even playing field where developers can compete directly with Apple to present their offerings, allowing consumers to freely decide which one they prefer, ensuring success goes to the superior product.
In addition to affecting payments, this new ruling alters how Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) can be utilized within iOS applications. Before, apps were prohibited from using NFTs to enable additional functionalities. This approach had been seen as an attempt to circumvent Apple’s charges, which led the company to prohibit such practices.
With the latest court ruling, it appears that the restriction has been lifted as well. Now, developers have the freedom to utilize NFTs for granting users access to exclusive content or functionalities without being concerned about obtaining Apple’s endorsement.
The issue that the ruling failed to address is the challenge of converting traditional currency into cryptocurrency. Individuals without prior access to crypto will continue to face the usual Know-Your-Customer (KYC) requirements when purchasing it.
Apple can’t block crypto payments No longer will users be exempt from identity verification when exchanging dollars for cryptocurrency; this step remains external to the App Store and isn’t being eliminated.
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