Fortnite wins legal battle against Apple and Google over in-game payment system that excluded them

An Australian court has ruled that Apple and Google abused their market power in a dispute with Epic Games, the maker of the popular video game Fortnite .

Both Apple and Google removed Fortnite from their respective app stores in 2020, after the game—with hundreds of millions of registered users—designed an in-app payment system that excluded the tech giants, according to AFP.

Developer Epic Games responded with a series of legal actions against the tech companies in courts around the world.

This week, the Australian Federal Court ruled that these companies' app store dominance reduced competition , likely forcing developers to pay higher fees. "This is a WIN for Australian developers and consumers!" Epic Games responded in a statement released Tuesday.

However, Judge Jonathan Beach rejected the manufacturer's claims that Apple and Google engaged in unfair conduct . A Google spokesperson said the company disagrees with some of the court's findings and "will review the full decision upon receipt and assess its next steps."