Apple’s decision to remove Fortnite from the iOS App Store has resulted in an expensive market on eBay for pre-owned iPhones that still have the game installed.
Resellers are offering Fortnite-installed iPhones from $1,500 all the way up to an ungodly $10,000. You can currently find more than a dozen such sales on the e-commerce site for the iPhone 8, iPhone XR, and iPhone 11.
Images of the devices show the Fortnite app icon installed on the iPhone’s home screen. Fortunately, sane people appear to be staying away from them; most have received no bids.
(Credit: eBay)
Fortnite is a free-to-play game. But last week, the game’s developer Epic Games decided to defy iOS App Store rules and add a direct payment option, bypassing the need to fork over a 30 percent revenue cut to Apple. According to Epic Games, the 30 percent cut is an “Apple tax,” and indicative of the company’s monopoly-like control over iOS app distribution.
In response, Apple removed the game from the App Store. Fortunately, players who already have Fortnite installed on their iOS devices can still enjoy the game, though they won’t receive updates. Also, if you previously had the game installed but deleted it, you might still be able to reclaim it. Open the App Store app, tap Purchased >My Purchases and check whether the game is there.
The bad news is that new iOS users have no way to install the game. Still, we don’t recommend paying thousands of dollars to obtain a pre-owned iPhone with Fortnite installed. Plus, these devices will presumably ship attached to the Apple ID of the seller. If the seller wipes the iPhone before shipping, or buyers sign in with their own Apple IDs, Fortnite will be deleted. (This problem came up in the Flappy Bird era, too.)
You’re better off playing the game on another platform, such as the Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Windows, PC, or Android. Google is also battling Epic Games on this same issue, and removed Fortnite from the Google Play Store. But Fortnite is available via the Samsung Galaxy Store, while those on non-Samsung Android devices can get it from the Epic Games app.
Epic Games is also demanding a judge force Apple to reinstate Fortnite on the iOS App Store until the courts can rule on the antitrust feud brewing between the two companies. A hearing about that is scheduled for Monday.
EBay did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
