Few online multiplayer shooters are as popular as Epic Games’ Fortnite, the cartoonish battle royale where a hundred players drop onto a map so they can try to be the last player or team.
Despite being insanely popular, Fortnite isn’t on the App Store. This comes as a result of the lawsuit between Epic Games and Apple, in which the two companies are at odds over licensing fees and cuts to in-app purchases. Luckily, there’s an easy workaround that makes it possible to play Fortnite on iPhone or iPad. It only takes a few minutes and then you can join the fray and play to your heart’s content.
Fortnite on iOS: Xbox Cloud Gaming Workaround
To use this workaround for Fortnite on iOS, you need a Microsoft account like that used for an Outlook account or an Xbox account. You can create a Microsoft account (opens in a new tab) for free if you don’t have one to play any of the best iOS games.
(Image credit: iMore) Open Safari, navigate to xbox.com/play (opens in a new tab) and tap on the Xbox Cloud Gaming icon. From the Xbox website, click on the Fortnite icon which should be at the top of the screen. If the game isn’t there, type “Fortnite” into the Xbox’s search tool and tap the game icon when it appears. Select Ready to Play.
(Image credit: iMore) Next, tap the share icon (box with an arrow in it) at the bottom of the screen. A new window will appear. Scroll down and select Add to Home Screen. Select Add in the top right corner.
(Image credit: iMore) Return to your iPhone’s home screen and open the Xbox Cloud Gaming app. Select Fortnite again. Then select Sign in.
(Image credit: iMore) Enter your Microsoft account information and select Next. Then enter your password and tap Sign In. You will be returned to the Fortnite screen. Tap Play to start the game. You may want to turn your iPhone or iPad sideways at this point to get a better view of the screen.
(Image credit: iMore) If you already have an account, you must select Link an account. Then you need to enter the code that Fortnite gives you at https://www.epicgames.com/activate (opens in new tab) before logging in with your account information. If this is your first time playing, select Skip.
(Image credit: iMore) The user license agreement is displayed inside. Read it and select Accept.
(Image credit: iMore) Once the game loads, tap the play icon on the bottom left of the screen.
(Image credit: iMore) Tap the box on the right side of the screen under Battle Royale to determine if you’re playing with others or alone. If you play with friends you will need to join their team or add them to your team.
(Image credit: iMore) When everything is ready, tap Play on the right side of the screen to start a match. Will Fortnite return to Apple’s App Store?
It’s unclear at this point if Fortnite will ever return to the App Store as it was removed as part of the lawsuit between Epic Games and Apple. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has hinted that Fortnite will return to iOS sometime in 2023, but it might not happen in the way many are expecting and doesn’t necessarily mean it’s definitely returning to the App Store.
Fortnite workaround for iPhone and iPad
Although no longer on the App Store or Google Play Store, Fortnite continues to be a popular mobile multiplayer game. Luckily for battle royale fans, there are ways to play Fortnite without using Apple’s digital store. The easiest workaround is to download the Xbox Cloud Gaming app and play the game there.
No additional fees or payments are required to access Fortnite through Xbox Cloud Gaming. So you can jump on iOS and play with your friends without opening your wallet. Best of all, Fortnite offers cross-platform play, so you can join games with friends no matter what platform they’re playing on.
