Epic Games: Fortnite logs back in as outage ends, while courts press on with app-store scrutiny
Fortnite players across platforms can log in again after a login outage that Epic Games said prevented reliable access. The company announced at 8:54 PM ET on Thursday that the log-in outage is resolved and that all players are able to log in across platforms, with ongoing monitoring to prevent further issues. Previously, Epic noted the problem began around 6:39 PM ET and that most services were restored by about 8:02 PM ET, though PlayStation users experienced a brief delay before full restoration. The disruption also affected other Epic titles and services, including Rocket League, Fall Guys, and any games relying on Epic Online Services. During the outage, players saw errors such as “unable to sign in to your account for online services,” and some event streams and tournaments were impacted for a time.
In a separate legal development, an Australian federal court ruled that Apple and Google’s app stores are uncompetitive, granting Epic Games a partial victory in its ongoing challenge to platform gatekeepers. The decision adds to a global legal battle in which Epic has accused the tech giants of anti-competitive behavior. The ruling in Australia follows a recent U.S. court decision that rejected Google’s appeal in Epic’s antitrust lawsuit, reinforcing concerns about Google Play Store practices and its payment systems. In Australia, Epic argued that download fees were too high and that the app stores blocked users from downloading alternative app stores.
What this means for players and developers: the immediate Fortnite outage is resolved, returning players to their games and tournaments, while the broader dispute over app-store practices continues to unfold in courts around the world. The combined news highlights ongoing pressure on platform owners to balance revenue models with fair access for developers and users.
Key takeaways:
– Fortnite login issues were resolved; services across platforms are stabilizing after the outage.
– The outage affected multiple Epic titles and services, not just Fortnite.
– Australia delivered a partial win for Epic in the broader challenge to Apple and Google’s app-store practices, aligning with recent U.S. courtroom developments questioning the dominance of app stores.
– The outcomes could influence future terms for developers and the way players download and access apps and games.
Bottom line: players can return to Fortnite as the login service normalizes, while Epic’s legal push against major app stores continues to shape the debate over platform control and pricing in the global digital marketplace. A hopeful takeaway is that these legal and technical developments may pave the way for fairer access and more robust, reliable services for gamers and developers alike.