Fortnite is playable on iOS devices again thanks to a free Xbox Cloud workaround

Fortnite
(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite has technically returned to iOS devices thanks to expanded Xbox Cloud access and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Microsoft's new partnership with 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Epic Games.

As Xbox Cloud Gaming vice president and product head Cathe𝓰rine Gluckstein explained in a new blog , Fortnite is now available🐓 for free via the Xbox Cloud Gaming beta in 26 countries (full region list ). 

As long as you have a Microsoft account and an Apple (or Android) device with internet access, you can play Fortnite through the cloud straight in a web browser without worrying about a download or membership. It's also 🎃available on Windows PCs, but Fortnite is alre൩ady pretty easy to get there. 

Fortnite was removed from Apple platforms in 2020 ahead of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Epic's lawsuit against Apple, which 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:followed an ugly spat over App Store restrictions and payment methods. To boil it down, Epic got on Apple's bad side by letting Fortnite players purchase V-Bucks directly instead of going through the tech giant's storefront. Apple immediately kicked Fortnite off its platform, and the Google Play Store was right behind it. 

Microsoft ended up filing a letter of support for Epic's lawsuit, zeroing in on Apple's decision to block Epic from updating its Unreal Engine for iOS devices. Microsoft has also previously criticized Apple's store terms and conditions, especially as they relate to streaming services like t🉐he Xbox Cloud (then xCloud). 

With this partnership, Xbox has made Epic's biggest game free and playable on Apple devices once again, totally circumventing the App Store and even pre-empting 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:a newly proposed EU law that could give iOS users more freedom over their devices and potentialไly side-load games like Fortn𒆙ite back onto the platform.

Gluckstein says this is the ꧋start of Xbox Cloud Gaming's next initiative, and that Xbox will "look to bring more free-to-play games people love in the future." 

Sony has also gotten closer to Epic Games: the company recently invested an additional $1 billion in the house of Fortnite

Austin Wood
Senior writer

Austin has been a game journalist for 12 years, having freelanced for the likes of PC Gamer, Eurogamer, IGN, Sports Illustrated, and more while finis💛hing his journalism degree. He's been with GamesRadar+ since 2019. They've yet to realize his position is a cover for his career-spanning Destiny column, and he's kept the ruse going with a lot of news and the occasional feature, all while playing as many roguelikes as possible.