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Fortnite’s return to the Apple’s worldwide iOS app ecosystem looks to have resulted in its fourth highest downloads in a week on mobile.
Last week, May 19, 2026, Fortnite finally returned to Apple’s iOS ecosystem and the App Store, making it available worldwide on iPhones and iPads again, and the turnout was reportedly high. According to reports, Fortnite was downloaded 3.4 million times this last week, marking its fourth highest number of downloads in a week since it first launched on mobile devices since 2018.
These statistics were reported in analytics by AppMagic, as reported by PocketGamer. The reported 3.4 million downloads was taken from the period of May 19, when Fortnite first returned to the App Store worldwide, up to May 26, 2026, earlier this week.
Fortnite is back on the App Store around the world for iPhones and iPads! 🌍 Jump in and level up today to unlock the Yeddy outfit: https://t.co/Sv7ZD0iuKn
For more, see here: https://t.co/OTxMiBNtyS pic.twitter.com/QlEWjc4Qqt
This marks the fourth best week Fortnite has ever had on mobile in cumulative downloads. During its launch week it reached 3.7 million downloads, but this is better than Fortnite Mobile’s week 2, in which it hit 3.1 million downloads.
This is part of a long saga between Epic and Apple, with Apple previously removing Fortnite as Epic Games purposely evaded Apple’s rules on third-party payment options that circumvent the App Store. Eventually, Epic Games was at least able to loosen Apple’s rules on payment options. However, the costs associated with the long and strenuous legal battle also had notable effects on Epic Games, with Tim Sweeney sharing that the company had “taken a lot of bullets” in “being the industry’s vanguard” when Epic laid off around 1,000 employees earlier this year.
Fortnite’s global comeback on the App Store looks to have come out swinging, and it seems likely to go back to a top-tier option for mobile gaming. As we watch for more updates, stay tuned to the Fortnite topic.
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TJ Denzer is a player and writer with a passion for games that has dominated a lifetime. He found his way to the Shacknews roster in late 2019 and has worked his way to Senior News Editor since. Between news coverage, he also aides notably in livestream projects like the indie game-focused Indie-licious, the Shacknews Stimulus Games, and the Shacknews Dump. You can reach him at tj.denzer@shacknews.com and also find him on BlueSky @JohnnyChugs.
TJ Denzer posted a new article, Fortnite global iOS App Store return reportedly saw around 3.4 million downloads in its first week
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