Appeals Court Says Judge Must Consider Allowing Apple to Collect Commission

Core Viewpoint - A federal appeals court ruling presents both a victory and a setback for Apple in its ongoing legal dispute with Epic Games, particularly regarding commission structures and antitrust allegations [1]. Group 1: Court Rulings - The appeals court ruled that a district court must reconsider allowing Apple to collect a commission on transactions made outside its App Store, although not the previous 27% commission [2]. - The appeals court rejected Apple's challenge to a prior ruling that found the company engaged in anticompetitive conduct, stating that Apple had ignored an order to allow developers to direct consumers to alternative payment options [3]. - An April ruling mandated that Apple must permit third-party payment options within its App Store, indicating that Apple had circumvented this order [4]. Group 2: Epic Games Response - Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced that Fortnite would return to the U.S. iOS App Store, highlighting its success as the 2 most downloaded iOS game in 2025 [5]. - Sweeney also confirmed that Fortnite is available on Android through Google Play and the Epic Games Store, emphasizing a new era of open mobile gaming [6].