Technologies

Fortnite Could Return to iPhones Any Day Now

The massively popular game is expected to make a comeback on iOS devices, following a court ruling against Apple.

After years of legal battles, Fortnite is finally set to return to iPhones and iPads. The legendary game has been in and out of Apple the App Store multiple times over the years as its parent company, Epic Games, and Apple clashed over developer fees.

Last Wednesday, the US District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that Apple’s behavior toward web transactions was in bad faith and anticompetitive. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney posted about the ruling on X on the same day.

«For the reasons set forth herein, the Court finds Apple in willful violation of this Court’s 2021 Injunction which issued to restrain and prohibit Apple’s anticompetitive conduct and anticompetitive pricing,» court documents read. «Apple’s continued attempts to interfere with competition will not be tolerated.»

Read more: The 15 Best PC Games Right Now

When will Fortnite return to the App Store?

Fortnite should be available for iPhone and iPad users in the US by May 11. Sweeney made the announcement shortly after last Wednesday’s court ruling.

«We will return Fortnite to the US iOS App Store next week,» Sweeney wrote on X. «Epic puts forth a peace proposal: If Apple extends the court’s friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide, we’ll return Fortnite to the App Store worldwide and drop current and future litigation on the topic.»

What will be new on Fortnite for iPhones?

In celebration of its iOS relaunch, Fortnite is rumored to be bringing back the Tart Tycoon skin. The monochrome cosmetic outfit was first released in 2020 and is meant to be a parody of Apple. Alongside the rare item, the Tart Tycoon Cup event is said to be returning.

Fortnite has been banned from iOS devices since 2020, when the flagship iOS device was the iPhone 11.

Why was Fortnite off the iPhone and why is it coming back?

In 2021, Epic Games and Apple went to court. Apple largely won that court battle, but didn’t walk away unscathed. A federal judge also ordered Apple to remove its anti-steering barriers, meaning the company must allow apps downloaded from the App Store to steer customers to third-party means.

From the archives: Apple Scores Legal Win Over Epic in Fortnite Lawsuit

Apple appealed the decision later in 2021, with proceedings continuing through 2022 and into 2023. Apple eventually won the appeal. However, the court upheld its anti-steering ruling from 2021 in the process.

When Epic took Apple back to court in 2025, the company pointed out that Apple hadn’t complied with the original ruling in 2021. The judge agreed and is now forcing Apple to follow the rules to the letter. This includes not charging developers for non-App Store payment methods and allowing developers to tell people that such third-party options and platforms exist. The time frame is simple enough. Apple is to comply with these new rules immediately.

Epic Games also has lawsuits against Google and Samsung, seeking to achieve the same result for users of Google Play.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for May 6, #225

Hints and answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 225, for May 6.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Connections: Sports Edition was half and half for me today. Half of the categories were easy, especially if you like movies. Read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That’s a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Sorry, stop playing.

Green group hint: Lights, camera, pitch it!

Blue group hint: The Greatest Setting is another one.

Purple group hint: Football monikers.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Take out of a competition.

Green group: Baseball movies.

Blue group: Nicknames for college football stadiums.

Purple group: Famous running back nicknames.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is take out of a competition. The four answers are bounce, defeat, eliminate and knock out.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is baseball movies. The four answers are 42, Major League, The Natural, The Rookie.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is nicknames for college football stadiums. The four answers are Death Valley, The Big House, The Horseshoe and The Swamp.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is famous running back nicknames. The four answers are Beast Mode, LT, Sweetness and The Bus.

Toughest Connections: Sports Edition categories

The Connections: Sports Edition puzzle can be tough, but it really depends on which sports you know the most about. My husband aces anything having to do with Formula 1, my best friend is a hockey buff, and I can answer any question about Minnesota teams.

That said, it’s hard to pick the toughest Connections categories, but here are some I found exceptionally mind-blowing recently.

#1: Series A Clubs, Jan. 11. Answers: Atalanta, Juventus, Lazio, Roma.

#2: WNBA MVPs, Jan. 21. Answers: Catchings, Delle Donne, Fowles and Stewart.

#3: Premier League team nicknames, Jan. 17. Answers: Bees, Cherries, Foxes and Hammers.

#4: Homophones of NBA player names, Jan. 26. Answers: Barns, Connect, Heart and Hero.

Technologies

These Beats Studio Buds Plus Wireless Earbuds Have Never Been Cheaper With $70 Off

These Beats earbuds have high-end features, and a more affordable price makes them a no-brainer — for now.

Our list of the best earbuds shifts around here and there, but there are some brands that you just know you’re going to see on there. Beats is one of those brands, and right now, the Beats Studio Buds Plus earbuds are one of the options around.

Well, thanks to a huge discount on Amazon today, you can currently get your hands on these incredible earbuds for just $100. That’s a massive $70 saving, and you can choose from a few different colors as well. Just keep in mind that this is a limited-time deal, so it’s not likely to last long at all.

All four colors are on sale, including the eye-catching transparent variant. As for what you’ll get for your money, these Beats earbuds have noise-canceling technology, as well as a sweat-resistant construction that makes them perfect for wearing at the gym. You can also wear them while sitting in bed with a bowl of ice cream and listening to a good audiobook; we won’t judge.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

Beats is owned by Apple, but that doesn’t mean these earbuds only work with iPhones and Macs. It does mean that they support Apple-only features like spatial audio and the impressive Transparency Mode. Android users can still take advantage of the convenient fast-pairing function, though. You’ll also get up to 36 hours of listening time, and you can take calls and join online meetings thanks to the built-in microphones.

Why this deal matters

Fans of Beats headphones and earbuds are well aware of the price premium that comes with the brand cache, but deals like this can get you the features you want at a price you’re willing to pay. Keep in mind that this is a limited-time deal, and you don’t need to enter any codes or clip any coupons to benefit.

Technologies

Waymo’s Self-Driving Cars Are in a Growing Number of Cities. Here’s Everything to Know

The robotaxi service keeps adding locations to its roster. Here’s where you can hail a ride now — and where the futuristic vehicles will be arriving soon.