Fortnite is finally back on iOS worldwide, and the return was much bigger than a quiet relaunch. After years of being banned from Apple’s platform, Epic Games nearly matched the game’s original App Store launch numbers in just one week.
The comeback has already given Fortnite its strongest iOS performance in eight years. While Epic’s legal fight with Apple is not completely over, the latest download numbers show why the company spent so long trying to bring the game back to Apple devices.
Fortnite’s iOS return brought millions of downloads
According to data from AppMagic, shared by PocketGamer.biz, Fortnite reached 3.4 million iOS downloads during its first week back on the App Store globally. That is only slightly behind the game’s original 2018 launch week, when it reached 3.7 million downloads on iOS.
The new total also made it Fortnite’s fourth-strongest week ever on Apple’s platform. For a game that has been around for nearly a decade and has gone through several major changes, this is a massive result, especially after its long absence from iPhones and iPads.
The daily numbers were just as impressive. Fortnite installs reportedly jumped by 1,408%, rising from around 19,000 on May 18 to nearly 290,000 on May 19. The popular game then peaked at 674,000 daily installs on May 23, showing that the return had more than just a short opening-day boost.
To put this into perspective, Fortnite’s original iOS launch peaked at around 764,000 daily downloads. This comes at an important time for Epic Games. Fortnite remains one of the biggest games in the world, but the company has dealt with slower engagement and a major layoff earlier this year. A strong iOS return does not fix all of that, but it gives Epic a major boost on the platform.
It is still too early to say how much this will help Fortnite in the long run. However, the first week back on iOS has already proven that millions of mobile players were waiting for the game to return, and that could be a big deal for future seasons.
In the meantime, players can also check out free Fortnite skins to add more rewards to their lockers without spending V-Bucks. The start date of the Fortnite Community Day event is also around the corner, which gives players a unique opportunity to unlock more free cosmetics.
