Fortnite has been inaccessible to play on the iPhone and iPad since Apple removed it from the App Store in August 2020 due to an ongoing legal dispute with Epic Games, but the battle royale game is returning to iOS devices courtesy to Nvidia's GeForce NOW gaming service.
GeForce NOW is a browser-based gaming service that will allow iPhone and iPad users to play Fortnite using Safari. It will be available soon. Since November 2020, Nvidia has been working with Epic Games to bring Fortnite to the browser, and in January, the two firms revealed a limited period beta that would take place before the official launch.
We were able to access the Fortnite beta in order to observe how gaming works via a browser, which will be the only option to play Fortnite on Apple devices for the foreseeable future. For the most part, Fortnite works the same way it does on mobile devices, with touch controls and controller integration so you can play with a Bluetooth controller if you like.
Given that this is still a beta test, the gameplay was mostly satisfactory. There are still some problems to sort out, but it's identical to the previous version of Fortnite for iPhone and iPad.
Using Fortnite through GeForce NOW now involves joining up for the beta, and it is a closed beta, so not everyone will be able to play. You may sign up for the waitlist, and you'll be notified by email if and when access is granted.
If you do get in, all you have to do is sign up for a GeForce NOW account, which is free, while higher-quality premium memberships start at $50 for six months. Sign into GeForce NOW, then add a link to your Home Screen and connect it to your Epic Games account.
After those steps are completed, Fortnite will be available to play in the GeForce NOW website's closed beta section. In the YouTube video above, we have a full breakdown of how it works, as well as a demonstration of what gameplay is like.
Apple has stated unequivocally that it has no intention of reintroducing Fortnite to the App Store while the Epic Games case is continuing, and the legal battle might last years. Apple stated that it will not accept reinstatement requests for the Epic Games developer account until the court's decision is "final and non-appealable," and both Epic Games and Apple are now appealing the first order.
The court held that Apple's cancellation of the Epic Games developer account was "valid, lawful, and enforceable" after Epic broke its contract with Apple by adding purchasing methods that violated App Store guidelines.
