Epic Games's Fortnite has returned to the U.S. Google Play Store following a court order. The game maker had recently settled its five-year legal battle with the tech giant, which stemmed from a dispute around the percentage of in-app purchase sales that app developers had to share with the platforms. However, the company lost a little ground on its related lawsuit against Apple, which was also over in-app purchase restrictions and commission structure.

The court's decision to partially reverse restrictions on iOS was a result of an appeals court ruling that called some of the restrictions overbroad. According to the new filing, Apple can tell developers not to make their links to payment mechanisms other than Apple's in-app payment system "prominent" but cannot prohibit them entirely. This change is seen as a significant victory for Epic Games, which had been pushing for greater flexibility in how developers handle in-app payments.

"We are pleased that the court has recognized the need for greater flexibility in how developers handle in-app payments," an Epic Games spokesperson said in a statement. "This decision is a step in the right direction towards creating a more level playing field for developers and giving consumers more choices."

The dispute between Epic Games and Apple began in 2020 when Epic Games launched a version of its Fortnite game that routed around the existing in-app payment systems on iOS and Android devices. Apple and Google removed the game from their respective app stores in response, prompting Epic Games to file antitrust lawsuits against both companies.

The case against Apple was notable for its conclusion that the iPhone maker was not a monopolist, but rather a company that had the right to set its own rules for in-app payments. However, the court also ruled that Apple needed to allow developers to point to other payment mechanisms if they chose. Apple has been fighting the specific terms of that agreement, which were partially overturned by the appeals court.

The impact of this decision is likely to be felt across the tech industry, as it sets a precedent for how companies like Apple and Google handle in-app payments. For developers, the decision means that they will have more flexibility in how they handle payments, and for consumers, it means that they will have more choices when it comes to in-app purchases.

Epic Games's Fortnite is now available for download on the U.S. Google Play Store, and it is expected that the game will also return to the iOS App Store in the near future. The company has not yet commented on when the game will be available on iOS, but it is likely that it will follow the same timeline as its return to the Google Play Store.

The decision is also likely to have implications for other companies that are involved in the tech industry, including Amazon and Microsoft. As the tech industry continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see more disputes over in-app payments and commission structures. However, for now, the decision is a significant victory for Epic Games and a step towards creating a more level playing field for developers.