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Last Updated on July 9, 2023 by Ernests Embutnieks

You seem to be a Fortnite fan like me. That is why you are asking about how to play Fortnite on iPad? But can you still play Fortnite on an iPad after its ban on the App Store? Yes, you can, but it involves a workaround.

As of now, Fortnite is not available for download from the App Store due to the ongoing legal battle between Epic Games and Apple. However, a few workarounds will allow you to play Fortnite on your iPad.

In this blog, I’ll show you how to play Fortnite on your iPad, including how to reinstall the game if you had previously downloaded it, and how to use cloud gaming services to access the game.

How to Reinstall Fortnite on Your iPad

If you had previously downloaded Fortnite on your iPad before it was removed from the App Store, you can still reinstall it from your purchase history. Here’s how to do it:

Open the App Store on your iPad.
Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner.
Tap on “Purchased” to view all of your past purchases.
Find Fortnite in the list of purchased apps and tap the download button to reinstall it on your iPad.

Keep in mind that since Epic Games no longer supports Apple devices, you’ll only have access to Fortnite through Chapter 2 Season 4. Any updates released after that will not be available.

Using Cloud Gaming Services to Play Fortnite on iPad

Another way to play Fortnite on your iPad is to use cloud gaming services like GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud Gaming. These services allow you to stream games to your iPad from a remote server, eliminating the need to download and install the game data onto your device.

Using GeForce Now to play Fortnite on your iPad

Here’s how to use GeForce Now to play Fortnite on your iPad:

Sign up for a GeForce Now account on the official website.
After creating an account, add the GeForce Now app to your iPad’s home screen.
Launch the app and select Fortnite from the list of available games.
Link your existing Epic Games account to the app to access your progress and inventory.

With GeForce Now, you can play Fortnite on your iPad with touch controls or by connecting a compatible controller to your device.

Keep in mind that the free version of GeForce Now has a queue, meaning you may have to wait up to 30 minutes to access a game session. However, paid tiers have no waiting queue and offer longer gaming sessions, as well as Nvidia’s RTX technology for enhanced graphics.

How to Use Xbox Cloud Gaming to Play Fortnite on Your iPad

Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming service allows you to play games streamed from a remote server via a web app, which means you can play games like Fortnite on your iPad using Safari or another browser. Here’s how to get started:

Launch Safari on your iPad.
Visit the Xbox Cloud Gaming website.
Tap on “Play on Mobile” at the top of the page.
Sign in to your Microsoft account. If you don’t have one, you can create one for free.
Choose “Play” on the Fortnite game tile.
Follow the onscreen prompts to add the Xbox Cloud Gaming icon to your home screen.
Tap the Xbox Cloud Gaming icon on your home screen to open the Xbox service in a separate window.
Select “Play” to start Fortnite.

Once you’re in the game, you can play with touch controls or connect a compatible controller to your iPad. Keep in mind that Fortnite is free to play, but it does include in-app purchases that are optional.

Why Did Apple Ban Fortnite?

Apple decided to ban Fortnite because Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite, violated their terms and regulations by hosting their own store that bypassed Apple’s own In-App-Purchase guidelines.

why cant you find fortnite in apple store

The App Store is created and maintained by Apple. Millions of applications, both free and paid, are hosted on the platforms for users to go through. Some of these applications contain microtransactions, aptly referred to as In-App Purchases.

These purchases can be a small injection of coins in your favorite game or a subscription to a premium version of a VPN. In Fortnite’s case, it is the purchase of V-Bucks, their premium currency, which lets you buy aesthetic skins and other items in the game.

Now, every purchase made through the Apple Store is managed by Apple. This is why Apple takes a 30% cut from every purchase made within its ecosystem. And attempts to circumvent are deemed as in violation of their ToS (Terms of Service.)

Now, Epic, in 2020, did exactly just that. By redirecting users to a portal that let them purchase V-Bucks from their own official site, Epic could now make 100% of the money that was being paid to them instead of only 70%.

This might not seem like much, but, in the grand scheme of things, according to testimonies provided by Apple employees, Apple made over $100 million over the 30% cut from Fortnite.

Epic Games didn’t want Apple to take in more of their money and violated their terms. After filing lawsuits from multiple states, Apple eventually banned Fortnite for breaking their ToS in 2020, and the situation remains the same.

This means that currently, you aren’t able to download or play Fortnite on the iPhone, iPad without a workaround.

Apple took a stand. I personally think they made the right decision. Rules are rules. If you allow one big game to bypass them, everyone will want unique rules.

Will Fortnite Be Unbanned?

No, Fortnite will not be un-banned from Apple devices in the near future. This is because Apple doesn’t want to entertain Fortnite on their App Store unless they comply with the 30% cut rule. On the other hand, Epic doesn’t feel like it’s necessary for them to adhere to their rulings. So, they’ve resorted to the court instead.

Therefore, even if the court rules in favor of Apple, Epic feels no compulsion to agree to Apple’s terms as it is their own choice as to whether they want Fortnite on the App Store or not.

To further understand, here’s a quick look at why both companies are at a standstill when it comes to Fortnite on the iPhone:

Epic’s Take

Apple devices made up less than 7% of Epic’s total revenue from purchases. In essence, they don’t make a lot from the App Store as they previously had led people to believe. In fact, projections estimated that they’d make up even lesser, about 5%, in 2020.

So, Epic has no real incentive to bend the knee to Apple. Their greatest revenue source, the PlayStation and Xbox, both at 46.8 and 27.5 percent, respectively, make up a much bigger portion of the pie.

Therefore, it’s unlikely that if Apple wins the court case and doesn’t need to revoke the 30% rule, that Epic would bring Fortnite back to iPhone. From their point of view, it simply isn’t worth it to spend all the time and investment on updating an application for an entire ecosystem only for it to bring 7 percent of their total revenue with a 30% fee slapped onto it.

However, if Apple does somehow end up revoking the cut, we’ll end up with Fortnite on the Apple Store. However, that remains a very big improbability.

Apple’s Take

Unless ordered by the court, Apple will not take away its 30% cut on the Apple Store. This is because it makes up a major chunk of their revenue. And, if Epic Games were to get away with setting up its own portal, it would establish other developers to do the same.

Other developers, such as Google, have reduced the cuts they take on their App Store. And, even though Apple has chopped off its rates for smaller developers who make under $1 million to 15%, developers are still resentful of the overall idea.

Whether we like it or not, Apple does offer of a valuable market to the developers. Their 30% cut is justified by their spending on upkeep, hosting applications, and creating a vibrant ecosystem.

Conclusion

Apple doesn’t seem to be unbanning Fortnite just yet. And, with the rise of cloud gaming sites, there’s no reason for you not to play the game on your iOS device if you wish to do so. Until the lawsuits settle, we’ll see no Fortnite on the Apple Store for the foreseeable future.

It’s a great shooter game, and it’s a real pity the players can’t download it from Apple Store but have to find a workaround to play it.

There are still ways to play the game on your iPad. You can reinstall the game from your purchase history or use cloud gaming services like GeForce Now to access the game.

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Saad

Saad is excellent at what he does. He's a tech fanatic. He strives to improve himself wherever he can. He tries to make each article he writes a little better than before. He explains difficult things in a very simple way.

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